THE team behind a new community larder in Millport aimed at helping Cumbrae residents make ends meet have revealed when the project will open to the public.

The new Millport Community Shop, at the Garrison Centre, is being set up to provide dignified and affordable access to food for people left struggling by the cost-of-living crisis.

It will open its doors to the public on Tuesday, July 23.

The project works on a membership basis and allows those who have signed up to top up their weekly food shop with their choice of more affordable items from the range of foods available at the larder.

Membership is only open to people who are living full-time on Cumbrae, so in order to register the people behind the project are asking that you bring along proof of address when you come to sign up.

From July 23 onwards the larder will be open every Tuesday, from 10.30am until 1.30pm, and every Friday from 10am until 1pm.

How does it work?

According to a post on the Millport Community Shop page on Facebook, you must be registered to use this service.

The post adds: "You register your household and the amount you pay and receive is dependent on the amount of people in the household.

"You pay £4 and you will receive 24 points to spend in the community shop. You cannot keep the points banked up, so you shop that day .

"Larger family groups can pay £6 and receive 36 points.

"You only get one visit per week.

"The shop is designed to meet basic needs that will help top up your normal weekly shop . So there will be basic sauces, soups, cereals etc. There will be NO fresh bread or milk.

Some of the stock will be limited to one item per household .

"As soon as we have the space up and ready we will hold an open day/evening so you can pop along and see the space we have and what kind of stock we will have.

"This service will be open to every resident of Cumbrae once per week, within the times set.

"This will be run by locals for locals and is not designed to impact on any of the wonderful local businesses."

How is it funded?

The larder is funded by grants from North Ayrshire Council and by members who pay monthly by standing order.

According to North Ayrshire Council's website there are 15 larders located across the council area.

All are run by volunteers with support from North Ayrshire Council.

To find out more, either about becoming a registered user of the service or about joining the larder team, email millportcommunityshop@gmail.com, send a message to the Millport Community Shop page on Facebook, or speak to a member of the team during the larder's opening hours.