Community Food Stores - Membership scheme - why aren't there more of these in UK?

[Gonnagetgoing]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but saw this on BBC London News (the extra bit after main news) and there's another one around London too somewhere. Why don't more areas/councils offer this in addition to foodbanks? I am lucky enough that I don't need this service and I donate to foodbanks on a weekly basis now.

As one user said, as it's like a savings club (you pay e.g. £5 per week and get discounted food) so it's not as demeaning as going to Food Banks and receiving 'charity'. Also, for pensioners or other people who may not have access to info about this e.g. via TV/Internet this should be flagged up to them - e.g. posters in GP surgeries.

www.pecan.org.uk/peckham-pantry/

There are lots of these now springing up in my local area. Not London.

Because what seems like a really simple idea invariably involves a lot of logistical planning and red tape that you have to work through first e.g finding a space to work from.
You need someone passionate about it the cause to set it up and keep it going. These schemes rely heavily on volunteers and they are in short supply.

There are lots of these near me (Scotland). Some are free, some are about £3. You get a bag and pick what you need. Most say you need to be from the local area but some are no questions asked.
Local shops seem to drop stuff off, probably on the use by date, and I guess other stuff is donated.
I work for a charity and send people along to these a lot in addition to food bank parcels.

There's one very local to me ( not London). Probably not publicised beyond immediate area as it is for the local community.

We have quite a few in Brighton.

The background to that pantry is years of work getting it up and going and masses of red tape. It also needs loads of volunteers, and manning every day (you can’t just open one day a week as the deliveries come all week)
Its a fantastic set up but you’re seeing a tiny part of what makes it happen.
You don’t have to pay £5/ week btw, you just pay when you use it.