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Thomas Cliffe founded Community Cupboard NUL CIC in Newcastle-under-Lyme to help people struggling with high living costs. The initiative offers a social supermarket where members can buy groceries at cost price or below using tokens purchased for £1 per year membership. On its first day, the store aimed to provide dignity and choice to those facing food insecurity, contrasting with traditional food banks. Cheryl Pepper noted that she could spend significantly less here compared to regular supermarkets while obtaining similar quantities of goods.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Newcastle-under-Lyme, Thomas Cliffe founded the Community Cupboard NUL CIC, which operates as a "social supermarket" aimed at helping individuals struggling with the cost of living. The store offers groceries at or below cost price and gives customers more choice compared to food banks. Members pay an annual fee of £1 for access to tokens that can be used throughout the store. Cliffe's inspiration came from his personal financial struggles due to anxiety, where he found it difficult to afford basic necessities like food and bills simultaneously. The initiative aims to provide "freedom to shop with dignity," allowing individuals to purchase only what they need rather than pre-packed items from traditional food banks. Dr Claire O'Malley of Teesside University emphasizes that while social supermarkets can improve access to affordable food, they should complement government support for those facing food insecurity, not replace it.
Written for “Community Food Support” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but 2 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 75785: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-13
- Published
"Instead of going to a food bank, being handed a bag and getting back home then finding out that they won't use all those items, at least here they can buy the tokens and shop around for the items they would choose to buy."
Founder Thomas Cliffe hopes the first "social supermarket" in Newcastle-under-Lyme, designed to help people struggling with the cost of living, will offer the "freedom to shop with dignity".
asserted
supermarket → publish → dignity
Set up by Community Cupboard NUL CIC, the store allows members to buy groceries at cost price or below, with more choice than other outlets.
asserted
members → Set → outlets
Customers can sign up for a membership costing £1 for 12 months.
asserted
Customers → sign → months
They are then able to purchase tokens to spend on items throughout the store.
asserted
They → purchase → store
Cliffe said the idea was inspired by his own experience after leaving work because of anxiety.
asserted
idea → say → anxiety
Although his wife was still employed, he said the couple struggled financially and found they were unable to access some forms of support.
asserted
they → employ → support
"It was horrible because you start to panic and think: 'What am I supposed to do? Where am I going to get the next food from?'"
asserted
I → start → food
"We either had to choose a meal or choose the bills."
asserted
We → have → bills
The supermarket opened for the first time on Monday.
asserted
supermarket → open → Monday
Such stores aim to cut food waste while helping people facing food insecurity by selling surplus goods at lower prices.
"
asserted
stores → aim → prices
It was exciting to have everyone come through the doors for the first time and give them that freedom to shop with dignity," Cliffe said.
asserted
Cliffe → have → dignity
Voluntary co-director Laura Steele said the level of need in the area often went unnoticed.
"One in four children experience poverty from what we have found, and the average income is £29,000."
"There was nothing really for the people of Newcastle and it was crying out for it really," she said.
asserted
she → say → it
Cheryl Pepper, a carer who visited after finishing a night shift, described the supermarket as "absolutely brilliant".
asserted
who → visit → supermarket
If you go to Tesco you spend £100, but you come in here, I've put £20 on and I still have some tokens left," she said.
asserted
she → go → tokens
Recent research on the growth of social supermarkets, external backed the idea that they were less off-putting than food banks and large commercial stores for those facing food insecurity.
asserted
they → back → insecurity
But lead researcher, Dr Claire O'Malley from Teesside University, said: "While social supermarkets can improve access to affordable food and reduce waste in the short term, they should not be viewed as a complete solution to food insecurity."
The report called for them to supplement, rather than replace, government support for those struggling to put good food on the table.
Fiona Morris, who has ADHD, said she had often found large supermarkets overwhelming.
asserted
supermarkets → say → ADHD
After visiting the new store, she said she immediately felt understood by staff.
asserted
she → visit → staff
"It feels like Supermarket Sweep - I feel like I'm robbing the place," she said.
asserted
she → feel → place
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