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For over 30 years, The Social Action Hub has been supporting the communities of Rainworth and Blidworth. We’ve created community-led initiatives that respond to local needs, and in 2021, we launched the Social Supermarket™ to tackle food insecurity and reduce food waste.

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Our trademarked Social Supermarket is at the heart of our efforts to combat food insecurity, alleviate financial pressures, and prevent food waste. By offering affordable, high-quality food we serve everyone in the community, including those facing financial challenges, those who want to contribute to a local initiative, and those looking to help reduce waste. The Social Supermarket empowers people with food freedom and fosters community connection through its dignified and choice-based model.

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To sign up --> please fill in the membership form below: 

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To pay your one-off £1 lifetime membership fee please see below:

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Facts & Figures:

​Since launching Team Foodshare, we have provided 5004 food baskets—equivalent to 183,480 meals—and provided 62 emergency food parcels to our most vulnerable residents. Across all services, we've reached over 1,679 individuals, supporting them through initiatives tackling food insecurity, mental health, employment barriers, childcare needs, youth provision, and environmental awareness. Our Social Supermarket reduces food waste and food insecurity.  Launched in 2021, it now has 985 active members, from across Rainworth and Blidworth. Access to this service can save upwards of £45 a week on shopping - money which can then support other household needs like energy bills. Through Team Foodshare we have provided over 2,000 children's meals during school holidays.

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5 star Food Hygiene Rating:

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a 5-star food hygiene rating! This covers all our services including The Social Supermarket, Chatty Cafe, Youth Community Fridge, the kitchen which we use during Playscheme for the children's meals, and much more!

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Prices: 

Initial one-off Membership Sign-up fee: £1

You can then choose between a £4.50 or a £6 basket.

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All proceeds are recycled back into the Social Supermarket and running costs as well as for providing emergency food parcels. 

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What do we offer?​​​

New items in every week from our donor stores such as M&S, Tesco, CO-OP, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Nando's, KFC, and more! We regularly also have stocked our Pet Bank, Baby Bank & Revive Charity Shop items for more specific shopping. 

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How do I join?

Just come to The Social Supermarket, fill out a membership form and pay your £1 membership fee, then you can shop and choose the items you would like!​

Who can shop at The Social Supermarket?

Our service is not means tested, you do not have to be in receipt of benefits, we don’t need proof of income - we are open to all! Therefore, whether you want to do your part for the environment and prevent food from reaching landfill, or you might feel this week's bills are making budgeting tight or the cost-of-living crisis means food price inflation has affected your household or you might want to pay it forward for the next customer and the sustainable future of our charity - we are open to all!​​​​

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What's next for us?

The Social Supermarket is at a crucial moment in its journey, and we need your support to expand and continue providing vital services to our community. With expansion already underway for Summer 2025 we are in need of donations from the public to make our dream become reality. By donating, you can play a direct role in transforming lives, reducing food waste, and tackling food insecurity.

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With investment in funding to facilitate our expansion into larger premises, we can build on our self-sustaining model, continue our vital work, and provide even greater access to food and resources for the communities we serve—whilst further reducing our environmental impact.

However, we need to raise £35,560 for building works and associated setup costs to secure the lease. Join us in expanding our impact and providing greater access to vital resources. Your support will help us build a more sustainable and accessible future for our community. To donate to our local giving page click here.

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Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference and will help us achieve our goal of creating a sustainable future for our community. Your support will directly impact families in need, reduce food waste, and empower individuals to make their own choices with dignity.

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​To learn more please read below.​​

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How do we tackle food waste?

A large proportion of our food donations are perishable items such as bread, fruit and vegetables, that are on or near their use by or best before date and are distributed across all of our services including our Youth Community Fridge, Youth Club snacks and refreshments, pop up shops and more...

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We also make sure that nothing is wasted by making sure that fresh bread, vegetables and fruit that is past its best goes to local farms, allotments and animal shelters.​

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Animal Food Bin

To make our food go even further, we put all of the food no longer fit for human consumption in our 'animal food bins'.
 

The bins are clearly labelled with their contents 'Bread & Pastries' and 'Fruit & Vegetables' and are located outside of The Social Supermarket in front of the grey gates.

Anyone is free to collect food from the animal food bins at the collection times:

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Monday - Friday 9am-4pm

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Crop Drop 

​We also accept donations from local allotments or growers - any surplus fresh fruit and vegetables is always a welcome donation at the Social Supermarket!​

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Our Current Partners are:

• Fareshare

• The Company Shop

• Cambridge Close OAP's Group

• Rainworth Pétanque Club

• Newark and Sherwood Homes

• Newark and Sherwood District Council

• Nottinghamshire County Council

• Sherwood Forest Food Bank 

• Rainworth & Blidworth Youth Club  & Playscheme

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