Community Pop-Up Shop

A joint community project between The Racing Centre and Newmarket Open Door came in the form of a community shop set up to support those in the community with hardship. The concept created by The Basic Life Charity in Felixstowe has established community shops throughout Suffolk. Seeing around 70 people through the doors each week, the shop has become established within its initial pilot and we plan to continue these through the pandemic and beyond.

The pandemic has highlighted that vulnerability in the community is far more prevalent than first anticipated and that more people are requiring support than ever before. This community shop has no criteria but only a few simple rules, £2 per jute bag and one bag per person.

The shop has been supported by community groups and schools from an early stage including that of Exning Primary School whose students raised over £400 by selling over 400 hot chocolates and Santa cookie cups over three days to support the community shop to allow fresh produce to be offered. Seen below with centre manager John Gilbert, and Head Teacher James Clark, including year 6 teacher Emma Hardy along with head boy and head girl.