M&S West Hill

I coordinate the collection and redistribution of surplus stock to sheltered housing residents, ensuring that good-quality food and essential items reach elderly and disabled individuals who benefit most from reduced living costs. By alleviating the financial pressure associated with everyday groceries, this initiative helps residents retain more of their income, directly enhancing their quality of life and overall wellbeing. Beyond the practical support, the programme has played a meaningful role in strengthening community cohesion within housing complexes. Regular redistribution efforts have supported resident-led activities such as coffee mornings, enabling groups to come together, socialise, and collectively raise funds for outings and shared experiences. Donations have also contributed to the improvement of communal outdoor spaces, with residents using supplied plants and materials to beautify their environment. As a result, the initiative has fostered a strong sense of community spirit, pride, and mutual support among residents.

We are a group of individuals dedicated to uplifting humanity and changing the would through promoting a culture of Charity as a true way of living out authentic and meaningful lives together in families, communities, and societies; in order to attain our destiny in God. We provide relief to families in crisis from poverty, conflict, hardship. ill health or addiction through weekly provision of well cooked food served in a warm environment where they can be consoled and be happy to meet new friends. We also provide free weekly groceries to the above referenced families in order to promote their physical wellbeing.

We area Community Pantry following the Pantry model. We serve the residents of Central Dalkeith and Woodburn. Membership is free. Members then pay £3.50 a week to shop in the Pantry, we supply only ambient food items and purchase these from local supermarkets, this includes household cleaning items, toiletries such as toothpaste, soap, deodorants, mens shaving items etc . On top of this we supply free fruit, vegetables purchased weekly, and bread/bakery items. Free period products/ incontinence items, free pet food and free of charge any donations from received to our membership. We started the Pantry in October 2022 and now have in excess of 350 members. The organisation is run by volunteers. We are open every Friday from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. The reduction of food waste is one of our goals and to that end perishable items left at the end is distributed locally, as part of the local pantry network we pass on fresh fruit and vegetables to the nearby Newtongrange Pantry who operated on a Sunday and items that have to be used sooner are given to local groups and organisations. We are hoping to start our own food growing operation in the future. We try to help with the cost of living crisis in a positive way by offering a food with dignity approach, we are a community Pantry not a Poverty Pantry We operate the pantry within the Woodburn Community Hub in Woodburn, Dalkeith, the building is owned by Midlothian Council, it is used by other community groups and the Pantry has full use of the building on Fridays.. We supply ambient food from the Pantry, we also offer chilled and frozen items. Our members have 10 points to spend in the Pantry, each product is marked as either 1 point or 2 points in value. An average shop equates to around £15/£20. We are working closely with our local CAB and have regular visits from the likes of Changeworks to help people with their We are constantly talking with our members to find out what their needs are and see how best to help them through this cost of living crisis.