08/11/2025
👉👉 St Bart’s Local Pantry Management Group met recently and the decision has been made to permanently close St Bart's Local Pantry from January 2026. This is fully supported by St Bart’s PCC.
This was an incredibly difficult decision to make. During this year we have had to close the Pantry on Saturday; raise member’s fees; lower our FareShare shop but to little avail. The money is not there and it is increasingly difficult to secure the grants which will keep us open.
As you know, the Pantry was never meant to continue indefinitely, it was designed for members to top-up their weekly shop and therefore help to make finances spread a little further for a time. When St Bart’s Community Hub opens on the former North Worcester Golf Course on Frankley Beeches Road, it may be possible to re-open a Pantry again at that time.
We are proud of what we have achieved over the 4 years we have been open. We have supported so many people at a challenging time of food and fuel poverty. Many members have been given slow cookers , warm packs, Christmas presents for children. We have provided cookery courses ; English conversation courses and organised social events. We have arranged for Citizens Advice; EcoBirmingham and Acton energy to be on site for advice. We have done all we can to support our members.
On a more positive note, St Bart’s Church will continue with a Place of Welcome at Allens Cross on a Friday morning from January 2026. We know that many members appreciate the opportunity to socialise and many friendships have been made.
More information on the New Place of Welcome will be given in the coming weeks.
Finally, can we state that our closure is not the fault of Birmingham City Council. We have received significant funding from BCC since we opened and without the Council’s support our doors would have closed a long time ago.
Future posts will thank all those who have supported us in so many ways
Dear Members – it has been a privilege to get to know so many of you over the past few years. 🤝
St Bartholomew's Church, Allen's Cross
