A new food bank and community pantry will open in Bishop Auckland today to help struggling residents battle through the cost of living crisis.

The Angel Trust Charity in Bishop Auckland has transformed an unused building into a welcoming new community shop and food bank after being inundated with requests for help with food.

The new shop, which will open on Monday (August 1) was just a shell six weeks ago but has been turned into the new shop with the help of generous locals as more people struggle to afford food.

Clair McGregor, CEO and founder of the Angel Trust, told The Northern Echo: “We’ve always been a charity that adapts to what the community needs and recently the phone started ringing off the hook with people asking for help with food.

Read more: German Shepherd dog dies after attack in Chester-le-Street park

“We made food parcels during covid but the issue seemed to die down a bit but we decided we needed to help so would open a new food bank and community pantry.”

The Northern Echo: Angel Trust founder and CEO Clair McGregor at the new store. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTAngel Trust founder and CEO Clair McGregor at the new store. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The shop will be open as a food bank two days a week, where families with referrals from officials will be able to collect a box of essentials and have a free shop.

While another two days a week it will be open as a community shop to members of the public who can pay £5 for a year’s membership and fill up a basket for just £5 a shop.

Unlike other foodbanks, Clair says she wanted the venue to look and feel warm and welcoming.

She said: “Everyone who comes in says how warm and welcoming it is compared to other foodbanks. We’ve been approved by the Trussel Trust who are going to be using us as an example of the next generation of foodbank

To get more stories from County Durham direct to your email basket go here

“We’ve had so many generous people from the community like joiners and plasters who came down to help transform it from an empty shell.”

The Northern Echo: Food bank coordinator Joanne Suddick and Senior Fundraiser Julie Errington. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTFood bank coordinator Joanne Suddick and Senior Fundraiser Julie Errington. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The shop will be stocked with donations from local businesses, supermarkets, allotments and community donations and will have different items available every week.

Clair added: “I know lots of people feel too proud to ask for help but everyone is struggling and don’t be too proud, I’ll be shopping here and we’re open to everybody”.

It will open on Monday next week (August 1) and will run as a foodbank 11am-2pm Monday and Thursday, and as a community pantry 10am-2pm Tuesday and Friday.

See inside the new store

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

The Northern Echo: Picture: SARAH CALDECOTTPicture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Watch as we take a tour around the new food bank and pantry

Read next: 

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to The Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here