Officials from all 11 Northern Ireland councils and Stormont’s Department for Communities are to hold talks tomorrow(Tues) in a bid to free up funding for social supermarkets.
The “round-table” meeting is hoped to get funding allocated for an initiative aimed at helping vulnerable families access staples at the facilities which can sell them at heavily discounted prices.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has previously confirmed that over £100,000 of DfC cash for a social supermarket in its council area has been ringfenced but not yet released. It is understood there could be well over £1 million earmarked for the scheme across Northern Ireland.
Read more: Social supermarkets trial to open in Bangor and Newtownards to ease Universal Credit cuts.
The social supermarket pilot programme has been run by the DfC at five sites since October 2017, though the lack of a Stormont Executive has so far prevented any new money being handed out.
The united front by local authorities is hoped to speed up the process for the roll-out of the funding. The social supermarkets will provide food products discounted up to 70% for people affected by the cost of living crisis.
The updated Community Co-ordination Hub report on the project, seen by the local democracy service, will be shared at NMDDC tonight (Oct 17) at its active and healthy communities committee.
The early design process of social supermarkets has seen various models being suggested. However, it has been advised that the 11 local authorities could now link up to share in the benefits of facilities including transport and kitchens from each council.
Ards and North Down has been identified as one of the key council areas for the pilot scheme, with a social supermarket due to open in the coming weeks. The councils have also been advised of connecting with Advice NI, which will provide information of families and individuals who require support.
The social supermarkets will be set up to provide wrap-around charitable services in conjunction with food supply to those in need, marking it out from Food Banks which are focussed only on food provision.
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