A COMMUNITY pantry led by a band of volunteers has received its third five-star hygiene rating in a row.
A Food Standards Agency inspector paid a surprise visit to Braishfield Village Pantry on Wednesday, May 17 and found nothing to improve.
All the volunteers and directors at the shop and café in Braishfield Road were delighted, with supervisor Sharon Fielding saying she’d be disappointed with anything less than top marks.
Sharon, 60, said: “It’s always good to get five stars. A lot of people look for a high rating before going into a café.
“It’s a great achievement that’s hard to get. All the volunteers have to be trained up and they are much appreciated. Without them the pantry wouldn’t be able to exist. I expect we’ll celebrate soon once everyone is together.
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“It felt great to read what the inspector had to say. Usually, there’s a little note of improvement but he said there was nothing that needed to be changed.”
The pantry is led by Sharon, three directors and 25 to 30 volunteers, with all profits going towards Braishfield Village Hall. Next year, the shop and café will be celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Sharon, who also bakes a lot of the goods sold at the panty, added: “When I was a child in the village there were three shops as well as a post office. And then there was nothing for the next 15 years or so. It’s really important to have a place for the community, particularly for those who can not drive.”
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Speaking on the five-star rating, director Ian Barrow said: “It’s a tribute to the hard work of all the volunteers and Sharon in particular. The pantry is a force for good in the community and everyone does their bit. It only works because of the volunteer and it’s a true collaboration.”
The trading company, owned by the village hall, tries to sell as much local produce as possible, stocking artisan products from more than 25 suppliers, including its award-winning ‘Braishfield Banger’ which contains honey from bees within the village.
The main aim of Braishfield Village Pantry is to promote “living life locally” by providing a community service with low prices.
The volunteer-led business is open 9am-4.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturday. For more go to braishfieldpantry.com/.
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