M&S Bishop Auckland

Angel Trust was formed as a local charity for the local people of Darlington and County Durham. Our aim is to improve the local community and make life better for those living within it. We have created a food bank in Bishop Auckland town centre after being inundated with request for food support from individuals, through local referral agencies like social services, police, Macmillan, schools etc.

We run a community project called Shildon Alive, our team of volunteers operate out of 3 shop fronts on our high street and we support families and individuals in crisis. We offer food support, a community shop and takeaway and a Shelves and fridge for all scheme (food which is rescued and then placed on the shelves for everyone in the community to access, we are also and NEFIRST credit union collection point and we teach people of all ages to cook with supermarket food surplus.

We are a non-profit registered organisation that works from our community hub in St. Helens Auckland. Since taking over the venue, we have developed our services to include activities that aim to improve physical and emotional health, upskill, and educate, as well as reduce financial and social barriers. These activities and services include: Various Social/Learning Groups Cooking workshops Groups/events that involve food horticulture School holiday projects for families Eco Market Community events Community partnerships with external organisations and local authorities. Training opportunities Various volunteer opportunities Our social groups aim to enrich lives by offering activities that bring people together, build friendships, and support networks. We also aim to build new skills and offer educational opportunities, often working with other organisations and authorities in our area. From our groups, we can build trust, understanding, and thus support where needed. Food has always been a big part of what we are about, from our cooking workshops that are designed to inspire everyone to make better food choices through practical and fun sessions aimed at all ages and abilities, to nutritious meals and snacks created mostly from surplus foods and served within our social groups. Our Eco Market is an inclusive project aimed at helping to reduce food waste through the redistribution of surplus foods to our community. As an extension of this, foods are also shared with other organisations and schools. From this project, we can also actively reduce and educate others about the environmental impact of food waste and how a good diet can improve health. We do this through the provision of advice, guidance, recipes, and information. We want to build a stronger safer and more cohesive community, where opportunities for self-development and growth are accessible for all so that we can enhance the quality of life for residents in our local community.