A Methodist Church market transforms local food access in Newcastle

What began as an emergency response to pandemic shopping difficulties has evolved into a thriving weekly market and pay-as-you-feel café at Strathmore Road Methodist Church in Newcastle, serving nearly 50 people each Monday morning whilst tackling both food waste and food poverty.

The initiative's origins trace back to COVID-19 lockdowns when the church recognised that vulnerable community members were struggling to access groceries. "The church became aware that people struggling to get out to do shopping because of concerns about the virus," explained the Revd Ann Varker, who was the minister when we visited earlier this year.

Initially focused on food deliveries, the project expanded when organisers began collecting reclaimed food from supermarkets approaching its sell-by date. This developed into a reclaimed food waste market, which eventually found its permanent home at Strathmore Road Methodist church in 2022.

The transformation accelerated dramatically in August 2024 when the previous charity partner, Pickle Palace, could no longer sustain the operation. Rather than see the service disappear, the church stepped forward. "We said to them, well, thank you for all you've done, but we think we would like to try to run a market for ourselves," Ann recalls.

The decision proved transformative. Where Pickle Palace operated with two paid employees, the church mobilised eight volunteers for food collection alone, dramatically expanding their supplier network. Weekly attendance has grown from around 30 people to peaks of 48, demonstrating the community's genuine need for accessible food options.

The market operates with remarkable inclusivity. "It's not for people who need to go to food banks. It's for anybody," Ann emphasised, explaining that whilst many attendees face financial challenges, others participate from environmental concerns about food waste. "Other people come who are concerned from an environmental point of view, and don't want to see food going to waste."

From a market to a café

The pay-as-you-feel café emerged organically as an add-on service. With doors opening at nine o'clock but the market not starting until half-past ten, organisers noticed people arriving early and waiting. What began with simple tea and coffee evolved to include soup during winter months, then expanded to bacon and sausage sandwiches, plus cakes throughout the morning.

The operation now requires approximately 20 volunteers across all activities, with 5 or 6 regularly staffing the kitchen and 8 or 9 working in the market itself. This community effort ensures minimal food waste.

Additional support services have been integrated, including Citizens Advice sessions and mental health support teams, creating a comprehensive community resource. The church also operates an E-voucher scheme, providing £25 food vouchers or £20 energy vouchers for struggling families, typically offering multiple vouchers to ensure meaningful impact.

Volunteer Linda, who has been involved since the market's inception, manages the voucher allocation process. "There are different certain situations that come up where people don't have sufficient money to provide for their families," she explains, noting increased demand following Christmas spending pressures.

The initiative exemplifies how religious communities can address contemporary social challenges whilst maintaining dignity for service users. "The reason we do it is to enable people to recognise that God cares about them in their situation," Ann reflected, adding that many participants have subsequently engaged more deeply with church life.