Social supermarkets is the radical new concept you've probably never heard of but, food poverty is such an issue in County Cavan that there are proposals to start one in the area. Charlotte Wilson is the Community Food and Nutrition Worker employed in Cavan under the Sláinte Care Healthy Communities programme and working on the ground with Cavan Local Community Development.
In her role educating people on healthy eating and cooking, Charlotte was taken aback by the number of food banks currently operating in Cavan. And, to her surprise she has found that it is working people who have mortgages and other bills to pay and elderly people living alone in rural areas in County Cavan who are experiencing food insecurity the most.
Here she tells Zoe Tunney how "social supermarkets" work. Charlotte also invites anyone who may have ideas on how to get the new supermarket up and running in Cavan to come along to one of several information evenings being held around the county from next week. Information sessions about the social supermarket model are on at the following places and times: Monday, 12th February: Le Chéile Hub, Cootehill from 11am - 1pm and Beckscourt Centre from 3-5pm. Tuesday, 13th February: Blacklion Enterprise Centre 10-11am; Belturbet Men's Shed 1:30 - 3:30pm and the Bridge Street Centre, Cavan Town from 6pm until 8pm. And, on Wednesday, 14th February: The Réaltóg Centre, Kilnaleck 10am -12pm; and Ballyjamesduff Museum at 1:30 -3:30pm.
