M&S St Albans

Community led charity with a focus on social cohesion. Providing food aid to 600 people every week, baby items, educational intervention, free sport activities for youth and financial support for disadvantaged families across St Albans, London Colney, Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City. SACP holds a food hygiene rating of 5 at our unit with fridges/freezers/storage space in AL3 6EN. We have 50+ volunteers who between them hold food handling/hygiene certificates and are DBS checked. Food parcels are packed at the unit and delivered to doorsteps where needed or ppl collect from the unit. The service is free of charge and all volunteers are unpaid. We support 600ppl a week with fresh produce boxes. Referrals are made by other local organisations and authorities including schools, health visitors, family/social workers, Refugee Council, St Albans Old People’s Trust, Druglink, Citizen’s Advice Bureau, residents’ associations and more. Read more about our work in the press here: https://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/can-you-help-food-parcels-fundraiser-6903930 https://www.hertsad.co.uk/things-to-do/abbey-theatre-helps-sopwell-foodbank-6913492 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-56029947 We are in particular need of fresh produce including eggs/milk/fruit/vegetables.

We at 'Meeting Needs' try to meet the needs of those who are in our community on a weekly basis who struggle financially. We do this by making up food parcels and boxes, and then have these delivered to those in our surrounding areas.. What premises does your project operate from? We do not operate from any premises as we do not store or retain food. All food are delivered on the day, or night that it is collected from the stores due to their "used by date". Our policy is straight from the store, straight to our recipients homes as we conduct a delivery service from store straight to homes. This ensures no one is hampered by having to travel to access the food. Our ethos is to eradicate all barriers that inhibits individuals from accessing food and that includes travel. We also eliminate the need to carry heavy bags of food back to their homes. Our motto is to provide a streamline service that enables our recipients to have an easier way of receiving food which greatly aids our more challenged individuals like the elderly and disabled. All of our collections are given to shelters, refuges and hostels and private homes. Other parties that benefit from us are single parent families, homeless, low income workers, as well as individuals who are on benefits. The elderly and the disabled and individuals who are in care homes who enjoy receiving our cakes, breads, and flowers. The users are identified by the need that they show and divulge to us, and the difficulties and challenges that they face in accessing food. We also supply clothing, household items which are sourced from other Charity organisations. Has there been local press or similar that demonstrates your organisation's work in the local community? We do not advertise the work that we do as a respect to the individuals that we serve as some of our recipients are classed as 'vulnerable' ie DV victims.

I began my journey doing charity work around 2021, with non-profits, and from this my passion grew helping others who are less fortunate. Now, in March 2025, I have founded BelovedXCare, with a team of dedicated individuals who assist me in collecting nutritious surplus food from local stores and supermarkets and we redistribute them to those that are in need including low-income families, single parents and the homeless. We are eager to do our part in reducing food waste whilst supporting those in need. My wish is that everyone would recognise the need and be able to do the same in helping others. Giving back into the community is the ultimate blessing that we can bestow upon others. Errol Connage Director BelovedXCare M: 07482 453 410 E: errolc@belovedxcare.org W: http://www.belovedxcare.org