How does it work?
To join, there is a one-time setup fee of £5, which gives 12 weeks of membership.
As a member, you can shop every Friday between 1pm and 3pm.
Each visit costs £3, allowing you to choose up to 20 items from a range of food staples.
Your first visit is free, so you can see if our pantry is the right fit for you.
Following your initial parcel, you can either join on the day, take the form and join later or choose it’s not for you.
Please note: that the 12-week membership period starts from the date of the first paid shop and is not extended if you miss any weeks.
Following the 12 weeks membership you can speak to the team who will explain our renewal procedure.
Support if someone can’t afford membership right away?
If you find covering the membership fee challenging but still wants to join following the free shop, we can offer support.
Why the change?
Community pantries offer a more empowering and sustainable approach to food support. By contributing a small fee, our members retain dignity and choice while helping us reduce reliance on donations. This model also creates opportunities for deeper community involvement. Once a membership ends, individuals will be invited to renew their membership and volunteer with us—fostering connection and mutual support.
What this means for our Referees?
You can still refer clients to the Food Pantry @ SSC however we’re only offering one free parcel (as described above) after which they will be either invited to join if they think it’s right for them, are eligible and we have capacity.