M&S Brotherhood Peterborough

The Food Basket is a community fridge operating across Peterborough. We offer local fresh food to the community, reducing food waste and tackling food insecurity. The community fridge is open to all. There is no need to be in receipt of benefits and you do not need a referral or voucher to access this free service, just come along to your chosen session and bring a bag. Due to how we receive our food we cannot guarantee what we will have but in general it is a mix of fresh fruit and vegetables from farms and supermarkets and bakery goods such as bread and cakes. This can help with food costs and stop food going to waste, good for your pocket and the environment! Our Extra Helpings programme offers additional support for our patrons by linking with other organisations with specialist knowledge. We are currently working with Healthy You, Cross Keys Homes, and Woodgreen.

- Open Door Community Cafe and food hub - Community Support Hub: food bags, information and advice, hygiene products Why we do this: Each year in the UK we throw away nearly 15 million tonnes of food and drink. Nearly half of this is perfectly good to eat! Our Community Cafe enables businesses and individuals to waste less through the sharing of good quality food that’s within its use-by date. Food can be donated by both individuals and businesses. People in food poverty can benefit from what is available on the day. This is especially helpful for families with young children to help them eat more healthily. A benefit is that people come to the Cafe and a real community is forming so we are also helping with loneliness and isolation. Our volunteers are made up of local people so the café and food hub is helping them to give back to the community. The area of Millfield where the cafe/food hub is situated is in the 20% most deprived communities in the UK with a high migrant population and in recent history has faced many challenges in relation to drug and alcohol related crime, anti-social behaviour, and tenancy issues in houses of multiple occupation.

How We Identify Service Users and Their Needs Family Voice Peterborough identifies service users primarily through: • Community outreach: Events, cultural days, and partnerships with local groups • Referrals: From schools, Family Hubs, health professionals, and other voluntary sector organisations. • Direct engagement: Through surveys, feedback forms, registration links, and QR codes used in our PINS programme and other initiatives. • Listening to lived experience: We work closely with parent carers, especially those from seldom-heard communities, to understand barriers and tailor support. We prioritise families with children and young people who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and those who face social exclusion, language barriers, or financial hardship. Services Offered by Family Voice Peterborough We offer a wide range of services, including: Information, Advice & Signposting • SEND support pathways • Navigating EHCPs, school transitions, and local services • Culturally sensitive guidance for migrant families Inclusive Activities & Trips • Family days out tailored for SEND children • Cultural celebration events • Sensory-friendly and accessible venues Parent Carer Participation • The PINS Programme (Participation, Inclusion, Needs, Support) o Workshops, feedback sessions, and co-production opportunities o Welcome packs for schools and goody bags for families • Representation in strategic meetings with local authorities Fundraising & Community Empowerment • Events like the Sky Dive Fundraiser to support inclusive activities • Collaboration with community champions Advocacy & Rights Support • Support for families navigating health and social care systems • Empowering parent carers to understand and assert their rights Food Support • Access to food parcels and emergency supplies for families in crisis • Partnerships with food banks and community kitchens • Culturally appropriate food at events to reduce stigma and promote inclusion • Voucher distribution for shopping in local supermarkets helping tackle the burden of the rising cost of household shopping Charges for Services Most of our services are free of charge, especially those funded through grants or supported by donations. This includes: • Participation in the PINS programme • Information and signposting • Community events and workshops • Food Support Some inclusive trips or activities may have a small subsidised fee, but we always aim to: • Keep costs minimal • Offer free places to families in financial hardship • Use fundraising (e.g., JustGiving campaigns) to cover costs