St Helens is a proud community facing deep inequality. High levels of child poverty, poor health and unemployment mean many families struggle to afford enough food. Nearly a third of children live in poverty, with one in four residents living in the poorest 10% of neighbourhoods nationally. Rising costs combined with fewer local jobs are pushing more households into food insecurity and hunger, limiting access to affordable, nutritious food and essential goods.

Our YMCA St Helens social supermarket will turn one of our centrally located shop units into an accessible, affordable space where local people in need can buy food and essentials at lower cost. Designed with dignity and choice at its core, it will ease pressure on household budgets, reduce hunger and help prevent crisis. Alongside this, we will connect members to wider support services, helping them access advice, build resilience and achieve longer term stability.