• Vouchers are available for people who are receiving Section 4 or Section 98 asylum support, who have claimed asylum but aren't receiving any type of asylum support, or aren't eligible for financial support due to their immigration status.

• These vouchers can be for Govan Pantry, Castlemilk Pantry, Community Grocery Glasgow, the Courtyard Pantry, Govanhill People's Pantry, North West Community Pantry, Pollock Pantry, Royston Community Pantry and Ruchazie Pantry

• The vouchers are provided by the GCP casework team during the Helpline opening times: 0800 310 0054

• You will receive a voucher from GCP by SMS text message, you can show this to staff at the pantry who will know you can shop for free.

• A voucher from GCP allows you to shop at the Pantry for free for 1 month

• Unfortunately, vouchers are no longer available for people receiving Section 95 Home Office Support. We continue to be unable to pay for people who have their refugee status and can access benefits. If you are unsure what support you are on we are happy to discuss your eligibility for the scheme.

• Applying for Home Office support
• Emergency accommodation 
• Information on foodbanks
• English classes
• online social groups

• The pantry is community shop that runs on a membership model, which relies on food surplus

• Items aren't priced, instead you can select items from different categories according to stock levels.

• For £3.50 you will take away a basket full of items to the value of between £15-£25.

• They encourage you to shop only one time a week, so everyone in the community has a chance to visit the pantry.

• The pantry is very busy during opening times, and you may have to wait outside in the queue when it is busy.

• The Pantry has fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and eggs, dry food, chilled and frozen food, a deli with ready-to-eat food, plus toiletries and cleaning supplies.

• But because the project runs on food surplus, there is no guarantee that availability will be consistent. 

• With a referral from GCP,  you can shop at the Pantry for free for a month.
  
  

As part of the registration process, the pantry staff will ask you to bring a copy of ID and proof of address, and complete a membership form. This will include: 

Your name, address, email, telephone number, number of people in the household, employment status, how you heard about the pantry and some other food-related questions. 

Pantry referral vouchers are still available for people who:

• are receiving asylum support, but can't access cash - either Section 4 or Section 98

• have claimed asylum but aren't receiving any type of asylum support

• aren't eligible for any other type of financial support due to their immigration status

People who are receiving asylum support, but can't access cash

We are continuing to pay for those receiving Section 4 because they can't access cash to be able to pay for the weekly pantry fee. People on Section 4 will have an ASPEN card, but won't be able to withdraw cash from ATMs.

People who have claimed asylum but aren't receiving any type of asylum support

If someone is an asylum seeker but not receiving asylum support we can issue a voucher and potentially also assist completing applications. Please refer people to us.

People who aren't eligible for any other type of financial support due to their immigration status

This could be for example due to a no public funds (NRPF) condition on a visa or having had their asylum claim refused or withdrawn.

We are no longer able to pay for vouchers for people receiving Section 95 (which will be the majority of people seeking asylum). We are still unable to pay for people who have their refugee status and can access benefits.

There are 3 main types of asylum support; Section 95, Section 4 and Section 98. The differences between the types of support can be nuanced. If people aren't sure what type of support they are on, we are really happy to speak to people directly to check eligibility for the scheme.

We will be issuing vouchers by sending SMS messages as before. The vouchers will last for 1 month at a time.

Food Projects: foodprojects@govancommunityproject.org.uk

We may also contact you to ask for feedback, or send a link for you to provide feedback anonymously.

You can also contact the Royston Community Pantry directly:

Royston Food Hub Manager 

roystonfoodhub@ngcfi.org.uk 

07758093754

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoystonCommunityPantry/