Millport has over 120 people using community food larder

Figures show that 11 per cent of the island's population of 1,400 require to use the Millport Community Shop larder operation which only opened earlier this year in The Garrison.

The Millport Community Shop is now operating using an appointment system to "alleviate waiting times".

(Image: Millport Community Shop)

A report to the North Coast Locality Partnership revealed: "The Community Shop in Millport now has 153 members. It has a good bank of volunteers.

"An extra freezer has been donated from Ardrossan Food Bank to enable them to store more food to cut down on the days they have to shop to top up supplies.

"The group are pursuing the possibility of purchasing a storage container to store dried and tinned goods as it is getting more and more difficult to keep stock levels up and it will get even more difficult over the winter.

"The Largs Food Hub has been going well with 94 members. Additional freezers are being purchased for storage to save volunteers having to shop so often."

Councillor Tom Marshall says island community shop larder is a valuable asset since being introduced earlier this year. (Image: North Ayrshire Council)

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall said: "The situation in Millport has undoubtedly changed because of the closure of the foodbank.

"Although there are over 120 people using the community larder in Millport compared to 94 in Largs, the economic profile of Millport is different to Largs.

"Millport is one of the highest in North Ayrshire on the multiple deprivation index and also has among the highest number of pensioners. 

"Sadly, I think there is a lot of poverty in Millport due to age and people's circumstances but it goes to show you what an important facility the new Community Shop is, and it is good that the council helps fund these operations.

"I was quite surprised that Millport has so many people who need to use the community larder but it is reflection of need."

SNP councillor Alan Hill, who sits on the ruling council administration, said: "It is not often that I am sad to hear about a good uptake of a local service, however this is such an occasion.

"It is a terrible sign of the times and the current cost of living crisis that such a large percentage of the local population requires assistance from a food larder. That said, I am very pleased that this service is available to local people and would like to pay tribute to Joy and her amazing team of volunteers for all of the excellent work that they do.

"There is clearly a clear serious cost of living issue on the island which extends not just to food but also, I am certain, in terms of heating and electricity. Most of the country relies on gas for central heating but this is not available on the island leading to far higher electricity bills for local people. This is something else which needs to be tackled, especially given the shameful removal by the Labour Government of winter fuel payments."

The community larder operation opened within Garrison House in July. 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.

The shop is open on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 1.30pm and on Fridays from 10am until 1pm. 

The Community Shop Facebook page states: " If you are needing to shop and don’t have an appointment please remember you can still pop along . You just may need to wait."

North Ayrshire Council provide quarterly funding for the Millport Community Shop with the most recent payment at £1,700.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The support on the island has been fantastic and the larder has grown in popularity in recent months.

“Keeping the larder well stocked with food is an ongoing challenge for the volunteers as they need to leave the island for stock but they are doing a great job in keeping up with the demand of around 60 members shopping weekly. “They also do not have a very big storage space to stock up on supplies, and accessing stock is very difficult at the moment with the ferry timetables on winter sailings and cancellations.

“The Council supports the North Ayrshire Fairer Food network, and Millport Community Shop is part of this. Funding is paid on a quarterly basis, and the level of funding for each community larder is determined by their footfall.

“A larder that has up to 30 shoppers each week would receive £1000 every quarter but those with more than 30 shoppers would receive a larger proportionate amount every quarter.

“According to the Isle of Cumbrae Economic Baseline Report from October 2021, Millport’s main data domain had an overall rank of 3013 out of 6,976 in Scotland compared with Saltcoats Central, which had an overall rank of 26.”