While the main purpose of the Community Shop was to help households access affordable food, the survey shows it has become so much more. For many members, it represents security during uncertain times, a friendly face each week and a place where they feel valued, respected and part of their community.

Operating from The Whiteinch Centre, the Community Shop offers members an alternative to traditional food support. Rather than receiving a pre-packed food parcel, members are able to choose the food that best suits their household, creating an experience built around dignity, independence and choice. Every visit is supported by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, whose warm welcome has helped make the shop a trusted part of community life.

One Community Shop member noted: “It’s a great help – it makes a massive difference to my budget, and I can see how essential it is for helping fight food poverty in the community.”

The survey found that almost 90% of members visit the shop every week, highlighting just how important it has become in people’s everyday lives. More than 85% of respondents said the shop had eased financial pressure on their household, with many explaining that without it they would have struggled to afford food, cut back on heating or other essentials, relied on food banks or even gone without meals.

Beyond helping people manage rising living costs, the Community Shop is also making it easier for families to eat well. Almost four in five members said the shop had improved their access to healthy, nutritious food, with many valuing the opportunity to choose fresh fruit, vegetables and other quality groceries that would otherwise be beyond their budget.

For many members, however, the greatest difference cannot be measured in numbers alone. The survey revealed that more than 90% of respondents feel less socially isolated because of the shop, while over 95% said it has reduced the stress and anxiety they experience around putting food on the table.

Members spoke about looking forward to visiting each week, enjoying conversations with staff, volunteers and other shoppers, and feeling welcomed rather than judged. Many described the Community Shop as somewhere they feel they belong.

Another Community Shop user said: “The staff and volunteers are amazing, so helpful, friendly and make you feel welcome. It’s honestly much more than a shop – it’s a sense of community, togetherness and friendship.”

The kindness and commitment of volunteers also emerged as a recurring theme throughout the feedback. Members consistently praised the friendly atmosphere created by the people who give their time to support the shop, describing small acts of kindness that help make every visit feel welcoming and personal.

Latifah, a volunteer with The Whiteinch Community Shop, commented just how happy they were to be able to help and support community members, noting “Volunteering at the shop is about so much more than putting food on shelves. It’s about getting to know people, having a chat, and making sure everyone feels welcome, and have a space they know they can go for support.”

One of the strongest themes running throughout the survey was the importance of dignity. Members repeatedly said they appreciated being able to shop for themselves in a familiar environment, choosing food that suited their household rather than simply accepting what was available. That sense of independence, choice and respect was valued just as highly as the financial support itself.

The findings identified five key ways the Community Shop is transforming lives: easing financial pressures, improving food security, increasing access to healthy food, strengthening community connections and promoting dignity, choice and independence.

As cost-of-living pressures continue to affect households across Glasgow, The Whiteinch Centre and Whiteinch & Scotstoun Housing Association remain committed to providing support that is practical, welcoming and rooted in the community.

Lee Raeside, community projects officer (CFP) at The Whiteinch Centre, said: “I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication our staff and volunteers put in to making the Community Shop possible. The results of this survey show that the dignified approach TWC takes to food provision is working and having a positive impact beyond simply emergency food support.”

The survey makes one thing abundantly clear: The Whiteinch Community Shop is about far more than affordable food. It is helping people worry less, eat better, feel connected and build lasting relationships. Above all, it is creating a stronger, more resilient community where people are treated with dignity and supported to thrive.