BARNSLEY’s newest Good Food Pantry opened its doors in Lundwood yesterday.

Located at the Priory Centre in Lundwood, it becomes the fifth Good Food Pantry site to open in the borough.

This space has been made possible by dedicated young people and staff at BettaLives, with support from Barnsley Council and Barnsley Healthcare Federation and funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

The Good Food Pantry BettaLives Priory Centre will offer the local community good-quality food at heavily discounted prices. It will be open to the public every Friday from 10.30am until 12.30pm starting next Friday.

Good Food Pantries provide a sustainable and affordable food offer for local residents, forming part of the wider community support and activities our teams offer.

Food suppliers used by these pantries offer surplus food which would have otherwise gone to waste allowing members to make big savings on their food bills while helping reduce food waste.

Pantries don’t make a profit, with money made from sales being used to cover running costs, including buying varied good food to choose from.

Councillor Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities, said: “In Barnsley, we want to help families live happy, healthy lives and make sure everyone has access to affordable, quality food.

“It’s great to see the Priory Centre, which played a key role in supporting our communities during Covid-19, continuing to play its part in our health and wellbeing priorities with today’s Good Food Pantry launch. We want to thank the dedicated young people and staff at BettaLives for working with us and the Barnsley Healthcare Federation to bring this brilliant initiative to Lundwood.

“This is just one of the ways we’re bringing our Good Food Barnsley ambitions to life, and we hope these pantries continue to be a welcoming space for those who need it.”

James Barker, CEO of Barnsley Healthcare Federation, said: “We are really pleased to have been able to support the Good Food Pantry. The purpose of renovating the Priory Centre is to offer community services, and this is the perfect example of helping local residents.”