The Leader of the Opposition and the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Howard Sykes, has written to the Community Shop with an invite to come to Oldham to open a branch of their innovative social enterprise.
Cllr Sykes said in his letter to Sarah Dunwell, Director of Community Affairs, how impressed he was by news of the recent opening of the Community Shop’s second outlet in West Norwood, London on Monday.
The shop is a social enterprise that helps benefit claimants by providing them with the opportunity to purchase heavily-discounted ‘surplus’ food sourced from commercial supermarkets and the support they need to get back into employment.
Other than the prices, to all intents and purposes, the shop looks just like a regular supermarket with all food in date and fit to eat; it is cheaper because this is surplus food discarded by other retailers because it is misshapen or it has damaged packaging.
Describing the Community Shop concept as “worthy and practical”, Cllr Sykes also describes his impressions of the merits of the project:
“Not only are you reducing food waste by selling ‘surplus food’ supplied by commercial retail supermarkets at discounted prices to local people on a low income, but you are also addressing the waste of human potential and talent by engaging your co-operative members in productive training and activity that will lead them into employment.
“I believe that your project provides participants with dignity, because they are able to purchase a range of quality goods at low prices, rather than receiving donations; with continuity, because they are able to access such food purchases on an ongoing basis as required; and with hope, because alongside this retail offer they are able to access support to move into work”.
When the first Community Shop store was opened in Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, a year ago, it was announced that the project had ambitious targets to expand to a network of twenty one.
The enterprise is seeking partners across the country with a potential site in which to establish new stores.
Cllr Sykes has contacted Ms Dunwell because he believes “Oldham has that potential” and offers his services “as a facilitator to open a dialogue with the Council and our local food retail businesses”.
Copy of letter below:
OLDHAM COUNCIL
Councillor Howard Sykes
Leader of the Opposition, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group Oldham Council, Member for Shaw Ward, Member for East Ward Shaw & Crompton Parish Council.
5 Ballard Way
Shaw
Oldham
OL2 8DU
Please address all correspondence to:
Room 343, Level 3
Civic Centre
West Street
Oldham
OL1 1UL
E: howard.sykes@oldham.gov.uk
W: www.howardsykes.co.uk
Twitter: @Howard_Sykes
Ms Sarah Dunwell
Director of Social Affairs
Community Shop
Wentworth Way
Wentworth Industrial Estate
Tankersley
Barnsley
S75 3DH
T: 0161 770 4016
F: 0161 770 4026
Our ref: HDS/sb/148/2635
Date: 18 December 2014
Dear Ms Dunwell
Re: Oldham – a potential location
Congratulations on the opening of your second outlet in West Norwood, London on Monday.
Having read the positive coverage in yesterday’s quality press and visited your website, I am immediately impressed by how worthy and practical the Community Shop concept is.
Not only are you reducing food waste by selling ‘surplus food’ supplied by commercial retail supermarkets at discounted prices to local people on a low income, but you are also addressing the waste of human potential and talent by engaging your co-operative members in productive training and activity that will lead them into employment.
I believe that your project provides participants with dignity, because they are able to purchase a range of quality goods at low prices, rather than receiving donations; with continuity, because they are able to access such food purchases on an on-going basis as required; and with hope, because alongside this retail offer they are able to access support to move into work.
On your website, you ask anyone with a potential site to contact you.
I am contacting you because I believe that Oldham has that potential, and I would like to offer my assistance as a facilitator to open a dialogue with the Council and our local food retail businesses.
In Oldham, you will find not only a need for a project such as yours, but a local authority that has strategic goals which compliment yours; namely to become a co-operative borough and to get Oldham Working. We also have a voluntary and business sector with whom we work hard to address poverty and worklessness.
I look forward to hearing from you and to starting our partnership to bring the Community Shop concept to Oldham.
Yours Sincerely
Howard Sykes