Throughout Greater Manchester, there are charities doing their best to support those at the harshest end of food poverty, using whatever resources are available to them to help their local community, tackling food poverty, its root causes, and endemic food waste.
Wigan’s Fur Clemt are no different. They’ve been working in partnership with FareShare Greater Manchester since 2016, but their history goes back to 2014 when they started as a partnership between The Brick, Wigan Parish Church, and Food Positive. Over the years, they have grown to be one of FareShare GM’s largest charity partners and distribute food on our behalf to other pantries and food clubs in the area.
In 2023, they’ve moved on from their early days tackling holiday hunger and now run a community shop and cafe, with bundles of wrap-around support on offer as well. Their move to a former primary school, mid-pandemic, in 2021 has enabled them to go further and do that little bit more for the local community, and they now have over 4,100 active members making use of their facilities.
Membership is open to all, no matter your circumstances, and referrals aren’t needed in order to be able to go along and shop. For just a £5 fee per year, members can shop twice a week, and choose from a selection of ambient, fridge and freezer goods, plus a wide range of fresh produce.
Their cafe is open five days a week and utilises produce and stock from FareShare GM to cook healthy, low-cost meals from breakfast sandwiches to full, hot lunches. The cafe is open to all and also provides a warm space for a nice, warm drink and the time to catch up with friends.
“Working with FareShare allows us to support our community by offering fresh, frozen and ambient products to our members. Our project promotes dignity and choice a
nd allows our members to feel good about making a difference to our planet by reducing food waste” – Shirley Southworth, Fur Clemt Director
