Sellafield provides £11,000 to Warrington Food Pantry

Since opening in 2019, the pantry - which runs out of Fearnhead - has been supported by Sellafield, a nuclear decommissioning company.

The food pantry is organised from Fearnhead Youth and Community Centre, and was the first of its kind in Warrington when it opened.

It supports people living in the area who may be struggling to buy food due to low income or receipt of certain benefits. 

The aim is to improve residents’ health and wellbeing by providing affordable healthy food and access to services which improve their life chances.

Sellafield is owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and works in areas ranging from cleaning up the country’s highest nuclear risks and hazards to safeguarding nuclear fuel, materials and waste.

The food pantry opened in 2019 (Image: Newsquest)

Supporting the food pantry with equipment and food worth over £11,000, Pauline Deans, community liaison officer at Sellafield said: “This scheme not only helps people in our local community to eat more healthily, but also provides much needed support to help people to manage their finances as well."

Individuals can be referred to the pantry by the council and local partners. 

They pay a weekly membership of £3.50, which entitles them to choose a basket of 10 items of food worth up to £20.

Membership has increased from 45 to 70 members collecting food, with approximately 300 people benefiting from the food pantry.

Tracey Williams, financial inclusion manager at Warrington Borough Council, added: “The council also offers a wraparound service and gives benefit and debt advice and helps with energy swaps.

"The Food Pantry has really impacted the people it has helped.

"One family had been underclaiming benefits that they could be receiving, which gave them an additional £500 a month, which has made a big difference to the living standards of the family.”