A COMMUNITY café and citizens supermarket is heading to Pyramids Shopping Centre following a partnership with MP Frank Field's Feeding Birkenhead.

Work is now underway on the membership-based, non-profit food shop and café at 7 Princes Pavement with the hope for it to open in September.

The premises - called Number 7 - will focus on providing surplus food for people in Birkenhead who are struggling to pay the bills.

Number 7 will boast local charities and community groups and will hold services including welfare rights, debt advice, employment help and budgeting support.

Mr Field told the Globe: “Feeding Birkenhead has pioneered a whole series of projects in favour of hard-up families.

“Thousands of children have benefitted from our programme of meals and activities during the holidays, for example, as well as school breakfasts during term time.

“Likewise, the addition of fuel and benefits advice at the food bank has pulled thousands of people back from the brink of destitution.

"The citizens’ supermarket takes Feeding Birkenhead well and truly into the next phase of our work to ensure more families are able to eat good meals and to address those problems, such as debt, that make it difficult to pay the bills each month.

“Here’s another first from Feeding Birkenhead, with its campaigns that are always about helping people now, while removing the injustice which has given rise to their plight."

Feeding Birkenhead will also be recruiting paid staff members, as well as a number of volunteers for the running of the shop, café and offering community support.

Operations manager at Pyramids Shopping Centre Allan Beaumont said: “With the pressures of escalating living costs affecting communities everywhere, Pyramids Shopping Centre is incredibly proud to be working with Feeding Birkenhead and its wider network to provide an outlet for individuals and families in our town who need assistance in accessing affordable food.

“This is a significant addition to the centre as it will be a life line to many and will enable members to make huge steps in turning their situation around.

"Number 7 will offer hope and the power of this is immeasurable.

“In difficult times it can be overwhelming to know where to seek help and a kind, understanding ear, so it’s a privilege for Pyramids to be part of peoples’ solution.”

Membership for the citizens' supermarket will be by referral from one of Feeding Birkenhead's partners such as housing and healthcare organisations.

Each membership will last for six months with the option to extend if further support is needed.

Access to the café and community support services will be available to all.

Rosie Oglesby, national director at Feeding Britain said: “Citizens’ supermarkets are run by the community and are there to support people at a point when they need a bit of extra help to get through a difficult time.

“We think they have a huge potential to reduce the number of people falling into hunger and food poverty, and to do so in a dignified way without stigma.

“Birkenhead will be the first shop operated by Feeding Britain, and we hope to expand it to other areas of the country in the next few months.”

For more information on jobs, to donate or help with fundraising visit www.feedingbritain.org

Any businesses wishing to contribute to funding, food or other skills or supplies, can also get in touch via the Feeding Britain website or via Twitter at @Feeding_Britain.