Woking Community Grocery
Long-term food security, dignity and support for our neighbours.
The Woking Community Grocery will help individuals and families access affordable food, build stability, and move forward with confidence.
By providing reliable, discounted food alongside practical wraparound support, Woking Community Grocery is designed to strengthen lives — and, in turn, strengthen our town.
Impact at a glance
1,000+ local families supported in the first year
Up to £2,500 per year savings on food bills
Long‑term, dignified support, not short‑term crisis aid
Open to people of all faiths and none
The need is clear:
4,245
Foodbank parcels a year
2,000
Children on free school meals
5,000+
Households on Universal Credit
As a result, many are feeling hungry, hopeless and helpless.
What people are needing is stability, dignity and support that lasts.
What is a Community Grocery?
The Community Grocery is a membership‑based model that allows individuals and families to shop regularly for food at significantly reduced prices.
Members contribute a small weekly amount and, in return, gain access to a wide range of food — helping them save money consistently while retaining choice and independence.
The plans for Woking Community Grocery have been drawn up in partnership with Woking Borough Council, the Woking Food Focus Group, and 25 other local support organisations. It’s a proven model operating in 35 other UK towns serving over 80,000 members.
The Grocery will help people:
Reduce financial pressure week by week
Plan ahead with greater confidence
Avoid crisis situations wherever possible
More Than Food: Wraparound Support
Food is only part of the picture.
Woking Community Grocery sits alongside a range of practical support offered through Welcome Church, including:
Budgeting and debt support (in partnership with CAP)
Life Skills and Job Club courses
Mental health and wellbeing groups
Digital inclusion support
Community connection through our Welcome Café
This wraparound approach addresses root causes, not just symptoms — helping people move from surviving to rebuilding.
We supported 169 individuals through these groups and services last year, and will scale up these programmes to meet the needs of our Community Grocery members.
A Long‑Term Commitment to Woking
In 2024, Welcome Church purchased the office building next door to the church for £3 million, with £2.1 million given generously by our church community.
This building will house the Community Grocery and related support services, creating a permanent, accessible space dedicated to serving Woking for years to come.
This is not a temporary project — it is a long‑term investment in the wellbeing and resilience of our town.
Partner With Us
To make Woking Community Grocery sustainable, we are seeking partners who share our heart for Woking and want to be part of a long‑term solution.
There are several ways to get involved:
Businesses
• Corporate giving or sponsorship
• Supporting a specific area of the project
• Employee matched giving
Individuals & Supporters
• One‑off or regular financial support
• Gifts in memory or legacy giving
Expertise & Networks
• Advice, skills, or connections that could strengthen the project
We’re not looking for quick wins — we’re looking for the right partnerships that will help this work thrive over time.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to explore partnering with our Community Grocery, we’d love to hear from you.
Email: dub@welcomechurch.uk
Phone: 07968 697156
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to learn about the Woking Community Grocery.
Whether you’re able to support financially, offer expertise, or simply want to understand more, your interest helps make long‑term change possible for individuals and families across our town.
