Community Grocery

We are committed to helping families overcome life's challenges, providing support to put food on the table and empowering them on their journey out of poverty.

There is an ever increasing number of UK families struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet. Woking is no exception, with two wards being among the top ten most deprived in Surrey.

People in Woking have good access to short-term, emergency food through Foodbanks, but need a long-term, reliable, discounted food supply. We already serve hot meals to over 100 people at Welcome Cafe. Our debt service, money coaching and job clubs, mental health and wellbeing groups and more, supported 169 people last year.

However, this is only scratching the surface when the need is so great, and we have reached the capacity of what can be delivered on our church premises. In response, Welcome Church, Woking, is setting up a community grocery and programmes of advice and help. Alongside making affordable food available, families will receive practical support to escape from poverty and enjoy the self-esteem of being independent.

The need is clear:

2,673

Foodbank parcels a year

1,400

Children on free school meals

5,000+

Households on Universal Credit

At the same time, due to severe financial straits, Woking Council is not able to offer the desperately needed help. As a result, many are feeling hungry, hopeless and helpless.

Our response:

In response to the need, the church has purchased a three-story office block adjacent to its premises in the heart of Woking for £3 million, renovating it will cost £1.2 million.

Have your say!

To help fund the project, we have applied for £497,000 from Your Fund Surrey. Their 'yes' or 'no' will be influenced by the feedback they receive.

What can you do?

Please take a few minutes to fill in Your Fund Surrey's online consultation, giving your positive endorsement. Make your voice heard and be among the 1,000+ positive responses needed. You’ll help us change more lives in our town through our community grocery and welcome hub.

Have your say now!

The community grocery store

Families become members for £5 for a year and shop for between £5 and £12.50 per week, saving up to £2,500 annually. We expect 1,000 families as members in the first 12 months.

The need for this Grocery Store has been confirmed by Woking Borough Council, Woking Foodbank and FareShare. And also through consultation with the Woking Food Focus Group, set up to strategically meet food needs across Woking.

Our community grocery follows a proven model operating in over 25 UK locations. In the past four years they have significantly improved the lives of 55,000 member families.

Membership of the grocery store, and participation in the poverty-reduction and life-skills courses, will be open to all local residents from all faiths and none.

A Welcome Hub

A hub with free refreshments and volunteers connecting community grocery members to our extensive and practical range of courses to equip and empower them. And providing a warm space for the community to meet.