Barriers to accessing data and food are deeply intertwined. Both stem from a lack of essential resources that impact a person’s daily life.

People in digital poverty struggle to access the internet and technology, limiting opportunities for work, social connections and education to name just a few. Similarly, those in food poverty lack affordable good food, affecting their health and well-being. Both challenges lead to exclusion and, we know, disproportionately affect vulnerable groups.

Without access to either, the people we support face long-term disadvantages that are hard to overcome. That’s where Your Local Pantry and The National Databank come in.

Your Local Pantry is all about dignity, choice, and hope. Set up like a shop, with fresh produce and commercial fridges, members pay a small weekly fee to select at least 10 grocery items. In Stockport, we have 6 pantries run by Stockport Homes Group, and Starting Point is proud to support the 3 largest locations—Bridgehall, Brinnington, and Woodley. This initiative is funded by the GMCA Strengthening Communities Fund (SCDIF) as part of the hashtag#DigiKnow network.

Every month, Chloe and James visit each venue to share affordable broadband and data options, helping those without access through Good Things Foundation National Databank.

For those facing financial hardship, pay-as-you-go phone plans or small, expensive product quantities are often the only option—creating a “poverty premium” that traps them in a cycle of poverty.

We aim to break that cycle. By helping people understand affordable connectivity options, we make sure their limited resources go further.