In the last EcoShop network meeting we had Claire & Andrea from Teesside University tell us about the research programme they are working on and were looking for volunteers involved with EcoShops to support them in collating some information. Anyone who is interested in getting involved please let me know. More information about the project below……..
Community Social Supermarkets: understanding how they shape access and availability to healthier foods in food insecure communities
Social supermarkets (SS) like the Eco-shop are not-for-profit organisations which receive and sell surplus produce to local people.
Our project aims to:
1. Explore how SS are used throughout the UK.
2. Look at the availability and accessibility of SS products across the North-East and North Cumbria.
3. Understand how people in the North-East, specifically Middlesbrough, use and perceive eco-shops.
4. Explore ways of encouraging customers to buy and use healthier SS items.
This is a 2-year project which started on 1st February 2022 and will include the following:
1. We will carry out a scoping review to look at evidence and information on how social supermarkets are used throughout the UK. This will include finding out how they may be categorised; what purpose they serve within a community and understanding how they are perceived by communities.
2. A survey will be distributed across a sample of social supermarkets across the NE&NC to understand what products are available and how often customers use SS.
3. Interviews will be carried out with EcoShop managers and customers to find out more about the products people buy and also to understand how what their thoughts and feelings are about EcoShops.
4. We would also like to work with members of the EcoShops task and finish group to explore ways of encouraging customers to buy and use healthier food items such as fruits and vegetables.
Public Involvement
Within this project, we would like members of the task and finish group to help develop the survey, interview questions and other project materials to ensure that it is fit for purpose. We will also employ 2/3 peer researchers (from the ecoshop community) to be involved in the data collection process, meaning they would carry out the interviews and help with the analysis of data. It is important that community members are engaged with the project so that the results are meaningful and benefit the people of Middlesbrough.
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