Help with the cost of living

Get support with bills including energy, broadband and food costs.

Find a community supermarket

At community supermarkets, you can buy food and essentials at cheaper prices than bigger supermarkets.

Basildon

Laindon

Address: Laindon Community Supermarket, Laindon Community Centre, Aston Road, Laindon, Basildon, SS15 6NX

Opening times: Friday, 1pm to 3pm

Vange

Eligibility: You need to provide proof of address in Basildon.

Costs: Pay £3.50 membership fee upon arrival. Then save approximately 30% on food and household essentials. 

Address: Vange Community Supermarket, Trinity Methodist Church, 481 Clay Hill Rd, Basildon SS16 4NN

Opening times: Tuesday, 10am to 12pm

Buckhurst Hill

Address: Noah’s Ark Community Pantry, St Elisabeth’s Hall, Chesnut Avenue, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6EP

Opening times: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 4pm

Canvey Island

Canvey Island has a bus with a community supermarket inside, stopping in different areas, called 'Stuff on a Bus'.

Costs: Pay a £5 annual fee.

Locations and opening times:

On Tuesdays it will make two stops, visiting:

  • Link Road from 10am to 12pm
  • The Paddocks from 2pm to 4pm

On Fridays it will stop outside:

  • St Nicholas Church, SS8 0JR from 10am to 11am
  • Small Gains Hall, SS8 8QP from 11.30am to 12.30pm
  • Canvey Island FC, SS8 7PX from 2pm to 3pm

Colchester

Address: The Centre, Hawthorn Avenue, Greenstead Estate, Colchester, CO4 3PX

Opening times: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm

Chelmsford

Ford End

Costs: Pay a £5 membership fee which lasts for a year. Then pay £5 per visit for a full bag of shopping. 

Address: Ford End Community Pop Up, Ford End Village Hall, Main Road, Ford End, Chelmsford CM3 1LQ

Opening times: Tuesday, 9am to 11am

Melbourne

Costs: Pay a £5 membership fee which lasts for a year. Then pay £5 per visit for a full bag of shopping. 

Address: Melbourne Community Pop Up, St Andrews Church Hall, Chignal Rd, Chelmsford CM1 2JB

Opening times: Tuesday, 2pm to 4pm

Chigwell

Address: Limes Farm Community Pantry, Victory Hall, Chigwell, IG7 6QX

Opening times:

Tuesday, 10am to 12pm

Thursday, 10am to 3pm

Harlow

Address: The Bounty Club Community Supermarket, Former Wilko Store, Harvey Centre Ground Floor, Harlow, CM20 1XR

Opening times: Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm

Jaywick

Eligibility: You need to provide proof of address in Jaywick Sands.

Costs: Pay £3.50 membership fee upon arrival. Then save approximately 30% on food and household essentials. 

Address: Brooklands Community Shop, 12 Brooklands Gardens, Jaywick, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 2JP

Opening times: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11am to 2pm