Burnley Together are set to open a community shop in Burnley Town Centre providing access to affordable food, cost-of-living support and advice services.
At the heart of the store will be Burnley’s second Community Grocery store, the first of which has already been operating from Valley Street since early 2022.
Burnley Together’s annual school uniform recycling scheme and Christmas Present appeal will also operate from the store.
Located at 83 Market House, Charter Walk Shopping Centre, on the balcony, Burnley Together “Down Town” will operate as store with informal space for community support, open to the public in May between the hours of 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday.
Announcing the new initiative, Daniella Steenbergen of the Community Grocery said,
“For the past year we have been keeping over 2415 families fed through our Community Grocery at Valley Street Community Centre. We can’t wait to open our second store at Down Town on 16th May and help play our part in helping local families have access to affordable food, at a time when the cost of living is rising.”
Nicola Larnach, Coordinator for Burnley Together, added,
“It’s fantastic to be able to announce this exciting new development to our community, we know the difference we can make to people’s lives when we work together; Down Town will give us a place that is accessible to all, welcoming people to help meet their needs”
Burnley Together is a strategic partnership of local charities and businesses which was initially created in response to the pandemic, but now operates to support the communities of Burnley and Padiham when they are looking for support, advice, and guidance.
The Down Town facility will provide space for partners to operate and deliver their valuable community services including; Burnley Together, Burnley Leisure and Culture, The Message Trust, Life Church and Burnley FC in the Community.
In response to the cost-of-living crisis and a recent rise in individuals accessing Burnley Together services for the first time, the shop aims to provide opportunities for everyone to feel connected to their community and reduce isolation.