A NEW community shop in Bromsgrove has opened offering food at a ‘pay as you can’ rate.

The unique shop, which is based at NewStarts on Sherwood Road, allows customers to pay what they can for items.

As well as helping residents with the cost-of-living crisis it is also an environmental initiative, saving food from landfill and waste.

NewStarts is working in partnership with Waste Knot and FerryFast.

Marion Kenyon, CEO of NewStarts, said it is a step up from the food bank and people don’t need referrals to attend.

“Anyone is welcome to come and use the shop,” said Marion.

Bromsgrove Advertiser: Customers can buy fruit and vegetables. Customers can buy fruit and vegetables. (Image: NQ)

“It’s like the furniture scheme we run – it’s an environmental initiative as well as helping people.

“We work with FerryFast for our food bank as they provide our fruit and vegetables and then they put us in touch Waste Knot.

“We also have items that are after their best before date from Aldi and Lidl.”

Marion says NewStarts has taken the lead on setting up a shop following calls from residents.

“We did price up how much it would be to have a proper unit but once you have paid for everything it was around £50,000,” said Marion.

“We thought we would set it up here first and then look at how we can get out to the wider community.”

The Community Shop is open every Thursday from 3pm to 6pm.