A COMMUNITY shop in Weymouth launched to help people with limited disposable income is celebrating its first anniversary - revealing hundreds of people had signed up.

The Nest opened its doors last November, offering 10 items for £3.50, or £5 for 15, alongside free bread, fruit and vegetables for its members.

Organisers said the first 12 months had been a 'phenomenal'.

Based on a ‘social supermarket’ model the community shop has seen hundreds of people sign up since its launch and now has plans to reach more people in the future.

“I have to say it's been an excellent opening year,” said Neil Hardisty, director at The Nest.

“Now we have more than 300 members with a regular 90 shoppers each week. The comments have been fantastic. Customers say that it is great.

“The support from the community, the local council and Dorset Council has been great – they have been tremendous backers.”

The Nest, based in The Waverley Community Hub in Abbotsbury Road, is seen as the ‘next step up’ from a food bank, with the idea it is in place ‘to supplement’.

Mr Hardisty said shoppers ‘may go with two or three bags of food’ to help them out when they need it.

The store also stocks toiletries, in addition to a whole variety of different foods, donated via FanShare, a charity network aimed at relieving food poverty and reducing food waste.

Mr Hardisty said: “Now we are looking at providing deliveries in the future because not everyone can afford the bus here.”

The shop also runs a cafe, which is open to the public too, operates at the same hours as the shop between 10am and 2pm every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Anyone who wishes to access the community shop must become a member, which is free to do via The Nest Facebook page with no proof of financial hardship required.

Mr Hardisty added: “We are there to support and the support we have had has been really good."

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