A Catford nutritionist is on a mission to open an affordable, locally sourced grocery shop and deli in the heart of her community.

Mum-of-two Vicky Skingley dreams of unveiling her Good Food grocery store as a social enterprise on the Corbett estate and she needs help setting it up.

The 33-year-old has big ideas for a small shop and plans to add value to the community by offering an allotment vegetable swap, engaging with local food banks and setting up apprenticeships and work experience.

Mrs Skingley, who has lived in Catford for five years, will also run practical workshops on bread making and seasonal eating.

She told News Shopper: “Healthy food is really important to me. I really like teaching people about how to eat better.

“Everything starts with food. And it’s not necessarily always about being healthy, although it’s obviously important, it can also be about having family banter around the table.

“It’s about getting together with friends, trying new things and bringing people together to enjoy the shared experience of eating great food.”

News Shopper:

Vicky Skingley hopes to bring locally sourced produce to the community

Mrs Skingley, who has two sons Red, 3, and 15-month-old Dexter, has identified a vacant building on Sandhurst Road, and needs to raise around £33,000 to fund the project.

£5,688 has already been pledged from people in the community and she is waiting to hear if she has been successful in a bid for £20,000 from the Mayor of London High Street Fund.

The Ardgowan Road resident said she feels it is important vacant shops are brought back into retail use as more shops are being turned into flats in community shopping spaces.

Customers will be able to spend shopping loyalty points in store or use them to contribute to a food bank donation box which will provide all the ingredients for two to three meals and a recipe card.

"It's really important to me that the shop is embedded in the community," Mrs Skingley added.

“I will sell veg from local community gardens and allotment growers will be able to swap surplus produce for other produce on sale."

To find out more about the project and how you can get involved with crowdfunding visit spacehive.com/goodfoodcatford.