M&S Coleraine

We provide practical support to individuals and families in Coleraine and Ballymoney who are facing financial hardship or challenging life circumstances. Our aim is to help people maintain stability, meet basic needs, and move forward with confidence. Who we support • Individuals and families on low incomes • Single parents and households experiencing financial pressure • People going through difficult transitions or periods of instability • Anyone in the local community who needs additional support How we help • Providing access to surplus food to reduce everyday costs • Sharing essential household items, hygiene products and clothing • Creating a welcoming, supportive environment where people feel respected and included Why this matters Access to food and essential items can ease financial pressure and help people focus on building stability for themselves and their families. Community support plays an important role in helping individuals regain confidence and move toward a more secure future. Thank you for supporting our local community.

Ballymoney Community Fridge (BCF), opened to the general public in April 2023 , since when it has grown from strength to strength, and is open to all members of the community. Run weekly, entirely by 30+ volunteers, over 80 people of all ages and backgrounds meet in a bright welcoming hall where they can come together over a chat with complimentary refreshments and are able to take away locally donated fresh, chilled and frozen foods. The savings this makes also enables households the flexibility to budget on other items such as heating etc. We are non-denominational and non-discriminatory. We aim to be open and inclusive and not stigmatise our users. We operate from the Old School House, in the centre of Ballymoney. However, our users come from throughout the town and surrounding area We are registered with the Community Fridge Network charity, coordinated by Hubbub. This provides us with knowledge and skills to efficiently run the BCF, however it does not provide us with funding. To date we have successfully built collaborations with some local commercial organisations who kindly donate food items when possible. We have however recognised a need for non-food items amongst the people who use the BCF, which are not donated and are needed. We are therefore looking to source funding for us to purchase essential hygiene products such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, sanitary products, washing powder etc. We try and collaborate with as many other community groups and charities as possible. We have close working links with Ballymoney Community Christians Against Poverty (CAP), who offer free, debt advice as well as a variety of courses including budgeting, life skills (learning to live well on a low income) , and a job club. CAP staff also attend the weekly BCF meetings and circulate to provide help and advice where needed. Several CAP clients now attend the fridge on a regular basis for both community companionship and to access free food. Our volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, and have other jobs/ affiliations with eg the Samaritans, and are therefore able to signpost users with appropriate information as required. Our users themselves have links with other organisations, such as the Mens Shed, enabling a transfer of information in a relaxed, hospitable environment. Our BCF is so much more than a ‘fridge’ and we hope to achieve so much more – we are always on the lookout for further funding and charitable opportunities.

Ashes to Gold works with adults 18 and over with no upper age limit. They are mixed gender, race, spiritual affiliation or none. We have clients from across the sexual orientation spectrum. Our clients also span all social classes and education backgrounds and represent people with no employment or professional qualifications right on through to social workers needing professional support and also people who work but again need extra help to get through some issue or trauma. More and more people with mild to moderate mental health issues are using the Ashes to Gold services ranging from just popping into the Haven for a cup of tea and a friendly welcome by staff, using social inclusion activities like the craft sessions or having a more structured service like one to one personal development mentoring focusing on goals and planning through their issues or even counselling with a therapist helping them explore their problems in a structured and safe environment. We have been recognised by GP's mental health teams for the important work we carry out for which the referral list is extremely busy.