AN award-winning social enterprise is set to open the doors of its community shop in Wirral next month.

Community Shop Beechwood will provide eligible members of the local community with access to high-quality, low-cost food and household products, alongside personal development support.

Located in Manor House on Beechwood Drive, its opening follows planning approval from the Council and funding from online supermarket Ocado’s charitable donation scheme, You Give We Give.

The shop in Beechwood will support an estimated 750 people and create eight local jobs.

Community Shop is the UK’s first social supermarket chain, currently with six stores across England, including Halton and Liverpool city centre.

Membership is open to people who live locally, receive welfare support, and are motivated to make a positive change to their lives.

Money raised from in-store sales will be invested into the community hub, where members can access personal development support, with sessions including everything from cook clubs and home budgeting, to interview skills and business courses.

The store will also house a community kitchen, offering wholesome hot meals to members and their families, with children eating for free.

Community Shop's long-standing partner Onward Homes is providing the Manor House building free of charge.

Ocado supports a number of local communities through You Give We Give, where the company matches its customers’ donations and gives the total amount to its food bank charity partners and social enterprises such as The Community Shop.

Last year alone, Ocado, together with its customers, donated a total of over £8m to good causes through this scheme.

Natalie Brown, head of Community Shop said: "We know the store will have a really positive impact on many people locally, and it marks our long-term commitment to bring more Community Shop stores to the region."

Jonathan Wiseman, general counsel and chief people Officer at Ocado Retail said: "We’ve been working with Community Shop for a number of years now and know first-hand what a tremendous job they do within local communities.

"We also recognise how much of a lifeline these brilliant stores are for those who visit them and trust that the local people of Beechwood will benefit hugely after what has been a particularly challenging time."

Sandy Livingstone, executive director of property at Onward, said: "It is a pleasure to team up with Community Shop again in launching this new store in Beechwood, and we look forward to many years of seeing what an impact it will have in this area."