Swansea school opens 'pay what you want' store for struggling parents
Families that are strapped for cash can do a food shop for just £3
A South Wales school is opening a grocery store tomorrow (12 January) for parents struggling with money to do a food shop for just £3.
The pop-up store is based in two shipping containers at Clase Primary School in Swansea, which families can visit to pick up bags of food and only pay whatever they can afford.
The scheme, which will also see school pupils grow their own food to stock the shop, is called Big Bocs Bwyd, or "Big Food Box".
Clase Primary School curriculum lead, Daniel Jones, said: “Sometimes there is a stigma attached to food share and food banks but it’s a way parents and families can pay what they feel for it.
“We have provision to have frozen and chilled food. We have two large fridges and freezers, along with pasta, cereals and fresh fruit and vegetables.
"We will have suggested items per bag and we are suggesting £3 as a nominated fee.
“It’s so people feel comfortable. Some will want to pay more."
Big investment for the Big Food Box
The scheme, run by the Welsh Government and FareShare Cymru, aims to deal with food waste and help families.
The Big Food Box project has also received £20,000 from the Waterloo Foundation, a charity for sustainability and primary education.
Daniel said: “We had to go through hoops that we had planning and that we made sure we had the correct contractors in.
"We had funding in April and we had two shipping containers in August, which are being converted into a shop space.
“We have managed to tap into another £15,000 of funding and landscape around the area of shipping containers too.
"We will have a patio, table and chairs to make it accessible for the community - the idea is that it is a food share.”