In 2021, The Chester Bluecoat Charity supported the launch of new and exciting initiative, The Greenway Grocer, with a £5,000 grant. The scheme runs a weekly session selling affordable fruit and vegetables from The Crossroads Community Hub, a safe and welcoming venue in Hoole. They also have an e-cargo bike that rides along Chester’s Greenway delivering to those that need help accessing food and Newton Primary School,
The Greenway Grocer is a fantastic scheme providing a sustainable, affordable and realistic way of shopping for low-income families, including asylum seekers. In walking distance for many, the community can buy the exact amount of fruit and veg that they need. The scheme accepts a range of payments, including Healthy Start Vouchers.
Andy Glover, Director of The Crossroads Community Hub CIC, commented “We see the Greenway Grocer as an exciting development of the Crossroads Community Hub, providing a chance for local schoolchildren and residents to access and enjoy affordable, healthy produce, delivered by an eco-friendly cargo bike. This is an exciting new project in Newton on the Greenway and will link the community, while promoting healthy nutrition and exercise.”
Funding from The Chester Bluecoat Charity enabled Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) to bring together key stakeholders to bring the vision of The Greenway Grocer to life. A CWVA representative said “We are so grateful to The Chester Bluecoat Charity for their funding support for the Greenway Grocer. It has enabled us to give the project dedicated support of funding, communications, training and collaboration with a wide range of partners to build an innovative model of accessible and affordable food provision. Local people have fresh, healthy and affordable food in the heart of their community.”
The project is very grateful to Bikmo, a bike insurance company who have loaned The Greenway Grocer the bike, read more about them here: Bikmo
