Another free supermarket for NHS staff has opened following the success of the Fulwood Support Hub.

A satellite NHS Heroes Support Hub in Chorley allows staff of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to access food, drink and toiletries free of charge.

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With social distancing rules in place, the Hub is managed by volunteers, and is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 noon to 5pm.

The idea for the first NHS Heroes Support Hub came from Preston’s Muslim community, with the Preston based hub being set up by volunteer Naeem Din.

The first NHS Heroes Support Hub, located at Fulwood Central retail park in Preston, opened on 23 April.

Read More: Free supermarket for NHS heroes to open at Fulwood Central

Within walking distance of Royal Preston Hospital, the Hub has been a great success so far, with staff using the service regularly and leaving donations.

Paula Wilson, Head of Charities and Fundraising at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Following the success of our NHS Heroes Support Hub in Preston, we wanted staff at Chorley, who can’t get to Preston, to have a fair share of all the fantastic offers.

“We’ve had wonderful feedback from those using Preston’s Hub and we hope staff at Chorley feel the same about this new satellite service.

“We’d also like to say a huge thank you to Lidl, who donated a trolley full of items for the Hub, as well as our hospital Governor Margaret France for organising the donation.”

“Once again, it is down to the help of our incredible volunteers that we are able to provide this service at all, and we are so grateful to each and every one of the organisations who donate products for us to stock.  It’s great to be able to support our staff, they deserve this so much.”

Read More: How Preston Sikh Sewa Society UK is supporting our city during the pandemic

Local Councillor and Public Governor at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Margaret France, recently received a generous donation from Lidl for the Hub, which included tea, coffee, milk, fruit and more.

Julie Hesmondhalgh, Area Fundraising Co-ordinator at the Rosemere Cancer Foundation, is running the Chorley Hub. Julie said: “It really is a pleasure to be coordinating the donations and ensuring the smooth running of our new Hub in Chorley.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response already – over 100 staff visited the Hub within the first 40 minutes alone!

“I hope our hard-working Chorley staff can take comfort from knowing they have access to food, drinks and other useful products should they need them.”

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