We are a not for profit community group whose purpose is to battle food poverty, encourage community cohesion and help to save the environment.
We intercept and re-distribute an abundance of surplus food from Fareshare, local shops, pubs and supermarkets, caterers, allotment holders and individuals who reach out to us in a effort to reduce their food waste.
We rely solely on subscription fees, grant applications and donations to fund the project which is run entirely by a small group of dedicated volunteers.
WEEKLY FOOD CLUBS
Our Food Clubs enable people to sign up to recieve a bag full of random surplus foods for just £3 per week (often worth around £20+). We currently have 125 households signed up to this scheme with many more on a waiting list to join.
During lockdown we have also been delivering food directly to people who are shielding and to those who find it difficult to leave their house. At the height of lockdown we were delivering over 130 bags per week and linked up with our local isolation support group to help make this possible.
DAILY DROP IN
We also host daily Drop Ins which are open to everyone on a 'pay what you can' basis. These are very well attended and we encourage people to take what they can use and to share with neighbours, friends and family.
We aim to ensure nobody goes hungry and to reduce greenhouse emissions by stopping perfectly edible food and it's packaging going to landfill.
We are not means tested and operate on a trust basis, if someone asks us for help - that is all the proof we need.
FREE WORKSHOPS
Before the second lockdown we were excited to share more details of our upcoming craft workshops in collaboration with Lakeland Arts. Unfortunately we have had to postpone activities for now but we are confident we will get the show on the road in the not too distant future.
We are looking forward to hosting a wide variety of workshops ranging from basic cooking skills, growing your own food & batch cooking to creative cultures such as kimchi and lacto fermentation experimentation!
We'll also teach you how to reduce your impact on the environment, by composting your food waste and repurposing old packaging. Please sign up to our email list to hear as soon as we are up and running.
FREE SHOP
Since starting up in February this year we have slowly been accumulating non food donations. Some of these are the excess of from clothes swaps, lockdown purges, or unloved toys.
We have been busy sorting, hanging and organising - we will soon be ready for you to come and have a browse, take what you can use or swap for what you no longer need!
BOUNCING BACK FROM COVID
The pandemic and repeated lockdowns have really hit people hard, financially, physically and mentally.
This coming winter is going to be tough for so many families and we aim to eradicate the need for anyone to ever have to choose between eating or heating.
Additional financial support will help us to sustain the ever increasing demand for our services and allow us to continue to help ease the strain on our local foodbanks.
OUR HOPES AND DREAMS - MORE THAN JUST A FOOD CLUB
As well as providing sustenance, once lockdown restrictions have eased, we will also provide a place of sanctuary, an antidote to isolation and the means to improve mental health and well being.
We wish to further build connections with other local support groups such as MIND, The Well Communities and more in order to create a mutual support network, share resources and host free workshops, therapy sessions and fundraising events.
FOOD WASTE CAFE
We also plan to open a café which will enable us to reduce even more food waste and offer hearty and healthy cooked meals at genuinely low prices, affordable for all.
HOW YOUR SUPPORT WILL HELP US
Every penny donated, combined with funding from what we hope to be successful grant applications, will help us to continue with our mission to support our local community.
You will not only be helping us to afford our current running costs but will help us to expand, to reach more people and assist others in starting up their own food groups.
If we manage to exceed the £2000 target and achieve the stretch target of £4000, we will even be able to make the first steps towards realising our dreams as detailed above.
If you would like to find out more about our project and the impact it has had on our local community or if you would like to get involved, then please click here or email [email protected]
Read some lovely feedback from people that have used our service HERE
