M&S Bradford Broadway

Established over 150 years ago and originally called The Institute for the deaf and dumb we still occupy the same building but our name has changed over the years to reflect society's changing attitudes. We support D/deaf and hard of hearing people in accessing information, training and recreational activities We also provide opportunity for interaction between D/deaf and hearing people by supporting the learning of BSL (British Sign Language) either through formal or informal courses . Our listed building is also home to a vibrant mix of ethnicities, faiths and cultures. Our "family" at Hallfield Road includes BIASAN supporting refugees and asylum seekers, an NHS mental health wellbeing support group,, two groups supporting homeless and vulnerable people with a weekly hot meal, a craft group for hard of hearing/hearing and profoundly D/deaf people, 2 church groups and a weekly luncheon club for profoundly D/deaf elderly people and in early 2025 we look forward to welcoming a new group who will be supporting people with ADHD into our ever growing "family" In addition to the 500 + people who already use our facilities every week we also support other local community organisations and groups with any surplus food, clothes or furniture we may have sourced so our outreach within our community does extend much farther than just our immediate community centre Our building is based in a very deprived area of the city and there is a continually transient population as people arrive in the city and are then relocated elsewhere Any food we get is quickly distributed to those who need it but we also have a community pantry set up for emergencies as many people who are now needing help have never been in this situation before and often do not know where to go for help. We have a community fridge and several freezers which are in situ to enable us to take advantage of any offers of surplus frozen food. We also subscribe to a weekly ambient and fortnightly frozen food delivery from Fareshare. These deliveries always include items such as dairy , fruit and vegetables and not only subsidises the food we have donated by local supermarkets via Neighbourly but enables us to offer a variety of healthy food choices to people The people we support have a wide variety of traditional staple diets - for some families chapatti flour and oil are what is needed, for others pasta or rice enables them to make large nourishing meals they know their families will eat. From experience we know people prefer to choose foods they know they will use rather than be given a prefilled bag. This means less waste and more meals from the donations we receive A big THANK YOU to all who continue to support us in the work we do

As a charity we provide emotional and spiritual support, advice, resources and services to those affected by various social and economic circumstances. We do this in many ways through support groups, empowering conferences and seminars as well as social activities that benefit the community. We have several families and individuals whom we support with food parcels every week in the local community including those who attend our community centre support groups. In recent times due to the Pandemic, we have seen a great increase in demand for food parcels and we have been delivering these to the community when they cannot come to collect them from the building. We also offer a take away cooked lunch on a Sunday afternoon.

The Community-Wide Food and Goods Rescue Initiative was founded and is led by Saroj Saurya, alongside the support of a dedicated team of volunteers. Together, the initiative works to reduce waste, promote responsible consumption, and foster a culture of sharing that strengthens communities across Oxford and beyond. Tackling food waste lies at the heart of our mission. Producing food requires vast amounts of water, energy, and agricultural land, yet millions of tonnes of perfectly edible food are wasted each year. When food is sent to landfill, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By rescuing surplus food and redistributing it, we prevent harmful emissions while ensuring that good food nourishes people rather than being discarded. The initiative partners with local producers, retailers, and suppliers to collect surplus food and household goods that might otherwise go to waste. These items are made freely available to students and staff at local universities, as well as to members of the wider community. This inclusive approach ensures that a broad range of people benefit and fosters a strong sense of shared ownership across communities. Items unsuitable for consumption are disposed of responsibly, and, where possible, packaging is recycled or repurposed to minimise environmental impact. Thousands of items have been diverted from landfill, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced, and meaningful connections have formed between people from different backgrounds and neighbourhoods. By continuing to rescue food and goods, the initiative demonstrates that sustainability and solidarity go hand in hand. Every loaf of bread, every bag of vegetables, and every item given a second life represents a step towards a more resilient, caring, and environmentally responsible future.