The 30-year-old ice cream van that's become a lifeline to some

Most people see a trip to the ice cream van as a one-off treat, but for some it has become a lifeline.

This yellow and red truck no longer plays a catchy jingle as it parks up around some of Liverpool's most deprived areas. Instead, people queue at what is thought to be the first ice cream van converted for this noble purpose.

Instead of serving Mr Whippy's, Anfield-based New Beginnings Improving Lives (NBIL) CIC have updated what this traditional ice cream van offers, so to speak, into a food pantry on wheels. The freezers sometimes still have ice cream in there but mostly it will have typical fridge, freezer and cupboard stock brought in by donations or surplus food from supermarkets.

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Customers pay £5 for a selection of ten items that will help ensure their kitchens aren't bare. The shopping equates to roughly £30 worth of food, said NIBL founder Michelle Roach, which is enough for a few hearty meals.

To promote healthier choices, the van offers free fruit and vegetables to its customers. There are also non-food items, like toiletries, for sale at a cheaper price as people making tough choices often go without these basics.

Michelle started NBIL in 2019 to help people who are struggling financially. She knows all to well how it feels after hitting hard times herself when she lost everything in 2014 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "There's definitely a stigma around accessing things like foodbanks. I know people can be put off going somewhere and feeling like they're getting a handout.

"An ice cream van made sense to me - it came with the freezers, chillers, shelves and stuff all ready to go. It's been working really well and it has been well received.

"I didn't realise just how much they cost though so we've ended up with a 30-year-old van but it does the trick! It needs a jump start most mornings!"

The van - driven by volunteer Morlan Carr - currently stops at a handful of locations around the city including Garston, Toxteth and Norris Green. Michelle said there is a waiting list for new stops to add into the van's busy schedule but the team are "at capacity". The same service is also in place at their community shop in Anfield on Rocky Road.

New Beginnings relies on the Household Support Fund, a government grant given to local authorities which distribute it to families in need and groups that help them. The government renewed it in March for a further six months but there has been no commitment to extend it beyond the autumn.

Michelle said: "Going straight from the pandemic lockdown into a cost of living crisis, it is hard and the demand hasn't eased. It's like we are constantly putting out fires and not having a moment to think.

"We've got so much goodwill in our city and this initiative helps a lot of people but should we be doing this in 2024? Whilst we are bridging that gap we need to ask are the Government going to do anything while we are running round like headless chickens?"

NIBL has information on their website about accessing their services.

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