M&S Blackheath

We are a volunteer run group focused on reducing food waste and supporting local families in need. Our mission is simple: to make sure no one in our community goes hungry while tackling the growing problem of food surplus. Thanks to our partnerships with Neighbourly, Fareshare and Caboodle, we have benefited from strong relationships with local supermarkets and food providers—including M&S, Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Nando's, KFC, Co-op, Lidl, Aldi, Pret a Manger, and Gail’s Bakery—we rescue surplus food and redistribute it to those who need it most via personal contacts and our Partner Organisations. This gives us the ability to provide varied, nutritious food parcels at no cost to families and individuals facing food insecurity. In addition to fresh food collections, we also stock a community cupboard with ambient and non-perishable items, enabling members of our community to access support anonymously and with dignity. Our recipients are identified through word of mouth and referrals from local schools and community organisations. Each week, we supply the equivalent of 2250 meals to local families and indiviuals as well as primary schools and community groups - ensuring that anyone who needs food can access it easily. Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable community where food is shared, not wasted.

We help reduce food waste by collecting surplus food and distributing it within the community, providing food support to those who are in need such as the most vulnerable and homeless persons on the street who do not always have access to other resources. Our aim is to alleviate or prevent food poverty and protect the environment as we're not just losing food! We're losing land, energy and water used to produce this excess of food. Food waste is a critical issue. We started volunteering as food waste heroes in 2021 during the lockdown and have helped close to 500 households with food donations. We now share donations with a number of charities and food banks. Our foundation does weekly food donation runs, ensuring that delicious and perfectly good food goes to families in need, and not landfills through partnership with local charities and community groups (ie: Lewisham Donation Hub, The Sapphire Community Group, Coming Out of Hiding (COOH), St Mungo’s, and many more). Some of stores we collect from include (but are not limited to) Paul Rhodes, Coco di Mama, M&S, Pret A Manger, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Gail’s, Boots , Holland & Barrett and Costa Coffee, to name a few.

Come Out of Hiding: The Lighthouse Network CIC (COOH) is a Christian, BME-led, community-rooted social enterprise dedicated to nurturing, equipping, and empowering whole and healthy young people, families, and underserved communities. Through our faith-inspired, holistic, and family-first “Lighthouse Approach,” we provide mental, emotional, spiritual, and practical support that transforms lives from the inside out. Founded in 2015 and registered as a Community Interest Company in 2018, we have built a growing, trusted presence in our community. Our work is delivered through two core strands: Family Matters and The Lighthouse Academy which together form a bridge between support, leadership development, and legacy-building. As we embark on our 10-year journey in 2025, we are in a critical growth phase, aiming to build capacity for long-term sustainability and legacy. Our mission is for every young person, family, and community to experience holistic wholeness and wellbeing: spirit, soul and body. The UK is facing overlapping crises impacting its young people and families: 1. Escalating Youth Mental Health Crisis: Around 1 in 5 young people (8-25) have a diagnosable mental health disorder, yet only 40% access effective treatment, leaving a significant gap in support, particularly in low-income communities. 2. Profound Social Isolation: 1.9 million Gen Z youth (16-24) report chronic loneliness, a higher rate than any other demographic. This is exacerbated by the loss of vital community spaces. 3. Gaps in Community Support Infrastructure: Since 2012, 53% of local authority-run youth centres have closed, removing crucial hubs for peer interaction and safe spaces. 4. Compounding Socioeconomic Challenges: Food insecurity affects 15% of UK households, with 60% of food-insecure homes reducing fruit purchases. Youth homelessness in London has seen a 92% increase since 2016, with 20,200 cases reported in 2023 alone, driven by family breakdowns and lack of housing options. These systemic issues create a critical need for holistic, community-driven interventions that address immediate needs while fostering long-term resilience and wellbeing. Our Solution: The Lighthouse Approach At COOH, we provide faith-inspired, holistic-based support with a family-first approach. We believe transformation begins in homes, serving the whole household, not just the child. Our programmes address mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing. Our work is delivered through two key arms: 1. Family Matters: Focused on rebuilding families and communities through: Let’s Get Fed Community Fridge and Mayor’s Fund for London Holiday Food Programme, Let's Get Messy Creative Mental Health & Wellbeing Sessions, Let’s Get Moving Physical Activity Sessions, Let’s Level Up Career Leadership & Employability Sessions, Annual Bank Holiday Undivided Family Community Summer Festival 2. The Lighthouse Leadership Academy (TLC): Raising Whole Leaders of Tomorrow