Free supermarket for NHS staff opens at Fulwood Central Retail Park

The NHS Heroes Support Hub, the first of its kind in Preston, will open its doors at 4pm today (April 23).

Observing all social distancing rules, volunteers will oversee staff as they self-serve a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, non perishable goods such as pasta and rice, tinned, jar and packet foods, frozen and chilled ready meals, bottled water and other drinks, milk from the fridge plus household and toiletry products.

The hub will open 7 days a week, between 8am and 10am in the mornings and 4pm to 8pm in the evenings, following clinical staff shift patterns.

The idea for the NHS Heroes Support Hub came initially from Preston’s Muslim community after the owner of the retail development offered the use of a free 30 metre by 18 metre unit next door to B&M Bargains.

Project Leader Naeem Din, a member of Preston’s Masjid-e-Aqsa Mosque and a representative of both the city’s Leao Marinho Brazalian Jiu Jitsu Academy and the charity Aspiring Communities, explained: “We have people of all faiths and backgrounds volunteering all kinds of help to make our hub the best it can be.

"Ask not what the NHS can do for you, but what you can do for the NHS. The NHS doesn’t discriminate and whether you are Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Hindu or of no particular faith, whatever your colour and creed you can donate supplies, collect donations or give time.

"For this reason, the whole of Preston is getting behind the hub, including members of my Ju-Jitsu academy, who come from across the world and as we all know, the NHS is loved worldwide."

Naeem, who runs his own sustainable energy business, added: "With pubs and restaurants closed, we have had offers of a lot of frozen food – pizzas, ready meals and other frozen goods.

"We have had a freezer unit donated but we don’t have as much capacity as we need to take all the donations so if anyone can either give or loan us additional units, we would be immensely grateful.

"It’s our intention to be able to offer our local NHS heroes as much variety as possible for as long as they need us to serve them."

Paula Wilson, head of charities and fundraising for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is so amazing. We feel very privileged to have this unique facility on our doorstep.

"We are humbled by the local community’s show of love and support for our NHS heroes. It is so kind and we are very grateful."

Anyone wanting to donate items or time to the NHS Heroes Support Hub can email [email protected].

To observe non essential travel and social distancing rules, collections, timed drop-offs and volunteer slots are being prior arranged.