A £6 pantry shop helps Horsforth households stretch their budgets

A weekly shop in Horsforth is giving households more room in their budgets. At the Community Pantry beside St James’ Church, members pay £6 and choose the groceries they need.

Ruth Dent, from the pantry, told West Leeds Dispatch that around 20 people shop there each week. She estimates they leave with £25–£30 worth of food. Toiletries and cleaning products are available too, helping with costs beyond the kitchen.

The local churches’ food-support guide explains that people join through referrals and can be directed towards further help. This makes the visit a route into support as well as an affordable shop.

Stock depends on donations and weekly surplus-food deliveries, so the choice changes. The quoted value is the organiser’s estimate, rather than an independent assessment of every basket.

Schools, churches and businesses are now supporting an autumn collection. Their contributions keep a simple arrangement going: neighbours can pick useful food for themselves, while leaving more money for the rest of the week.

Sources

• West Leeds Dispatch
• Horsforth Churches Together