A FOOD project which looks to help those in need in the Wellington area has been given financial support from town councillors.

It was back in 2022 that the Best Before Food Store was officially opened at the Well Christian Centre in Rockwell Green.

The members’ only project had been developed in partnership with local pantry schemes and for a £4 weekly charge, people could obtain fresh, chilled and tinned food which would normally cost a lot more in the shops.

Wellington Town Council’s finance committee agreed back in August 2022 to award the project a grant for just under £3,000 and the Best Before Food Store applied again this month for a further £2,000 to help fund ongoing costs.

A spokesman for the initiative told the council’s finance committee on April 17: “I would like to say thank you for the initial grant that you awarded. It went a long way to helping us to become well-established. The project is running really well now.”

But Cllr Justin Cole raised concerns when he discovered that the original grant awarded by the council had not been fully spent by the group.

“I don’t think we should support this,” he said. “Looking at this they charge people to be members and there is an existing grant that was awarded two years ago and hasn’t been spent yet.”

The Mayor, Cllr Marcus Barr, said: “People pay £4 for a £30 bag of food. I would like to give this group something because they do some great work and lots of people in Wellington use this service.”

Cllr John Thorne said: “They are trying to do more in the next 12 months and they do a lot of good work and there is an increase in demand for these services.”

Councillors agreed to award the group £1,500 – instead of the requested £2,000.

Best Before Food Store organisers have said it provides a place of community enrichment with members offered a social space to enjoy refreshments with a chance to chat and make new friends - as well as joining in with various other activities.