A NEW 'pay as you feel' social supermarket to help tackle austerity is planned for a Chester suburb.

Live Laugh Lache, a local Lache residents group, is behind the initiative, which will divert food waste from local supermarkets to those who need it in their community.

Hannah Kaira of Live Laugh Lache explained: “Food poverty and food waste are two major concerns in the UK at the moment.

"It is well known that in areas of higher deprivation where people have less money to spend that health and wellbeing are lower down the scale and we are hoping to tackle these issues by setting up a social supermarket in Lache.

“Contracts are being set up to divert surplus food from nearby supermarkets, farms and restaurants for Lache residents to buy it at an affordable price. We hope to see it become a space where our community can share its resources amongst residents.”

Nathan Pearson, Lache resident and business owner, thinks the Live Laugh Lache project is long overdue and can see the passion of the group will help raise the profile and spirit of Lache community tremendously.

He said: “I felt inspired by the voluntary actions of the group trying to better their community.”

Live Laugh Lache also features as one of the charities in #5reasonswhy, in which Nathan Pearson’s business Homeasy has set up to support different charities.

Georgina Clarke, Lache community development worker for local charity Cheshire West Communities Together, has supported the group getting established.

She said: “Our charity aims to tackle health inequalities by harnessing the strengths, passions and talents of residents in local communities. Live Laugh Lache and the affordable food project is a great example of residents coming together to find solutions to local issues, collectively raise community spirit and create positive action”.

Daniel Roberts, co-director of Live Laugh Lache, said: “These ideas have been taking shape over the past six months. We have been to visit Neo community in Birkenhead who are a social supermarket and cafe solely run by volunteers, we got so much support from these guys and were so inspired by what they have achieved, we have confidence that this is right for our community.”

Live Laugh Lache has recently been to visit Port Grocery in Ellesmere Port, a community food club based in Trinity Church.

Alison Golds, director of Live Laugh Lache, said: “We have come away from the Port Grocery more inspired and determined to get things moving in the Lache to relieve food waste, food poverty, loneliness and isolation. We plan to visit Stockport Pantry next to see how they got up and running.”

The community run group is busy raising money for the initiative, including getting ready for a sponsored climb up Mount Snowdon in the middle of March, which is open to anyone.

To help raise sponsorship funds, donate directly to the justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/livelaughlache.

For more information or to get involved, call Georgina on 07881 345031.