M&S Friars Walk Newport

Our grass roots, not for profit group has been set up entirely by volunteers living in the community we want to support, in response to the cost of living crisis and the post-Covid loneliness epidemic. We have big plans and have started with a Community Pantry. In the 4 weeks we have been operational, we have signed up 58 households in the neighbourhood and distributed close to 300kg of food, much of which would otherwise have gone to landfill. We have sourced the food from supermarket partners set up via Neighbourly. The project has been extremely well received by the community, but at the moment we are working from a temporary base while we arrange funding for more permanent premises, which we hope to set up on our local allotments site. Once we have our own space, we have ambitious plans for cook-a-longs, social gatherings for those isolated people in our community and pop-up sessions with other local support groups, energy providers, councillors and charities.

Help for All Gwent is a local voluntary group that accepts donations from the local community and donate to people in need. This includes essential items such as food, clothing and household items. We work closely with a local charity that donates furniture to families in need and help people in crisis with sourcing clothes and furniture. Families can register with Help For All Gwent to receive weekly or biweekly food parcels. The group is run by volunteers who collect food from Sainsbury’s and Aldi. The food is then distributed to families who can either collect or have delivered to them if they have no means of transport. We work closely with other local charities and community groups and cover each other's food collections if needed. Volunteers have completed basic food safety training to enable them to.distribute all food collected and understand the importance of food safety.

Our charity exists to empower and strengthen the Pillgwenlly community through sustainable, inclusive food support and collective action. We are continuously seeking to partner with local organisations, businesses, volunteers, and funders around one shared purpose: Ending food poverty and nurturing social resilience. Our Social Mission We believe that access to healthy, nutritious food is a fundamental human right, and that no one in our community should face hunger or isolation. By combining compassionate outreach with strategic collaboration, we deliver practical assistance today while building the foundations for long-term wellbeing and social cohesion. What We Do Community Food Hubs We distribute weekly food parcels to low-income households, asylum seekers, mature students with dependents, and those with No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF). During school holidays, our “Holiday Hunger” initiative ensures that children who rely on free school meals continue to receive balanced nutrition when school is out. Strategic Partnerships Through our longstanding collaboration with FareShare Cymru, we collect surplus food for redistribution. As demand grows, we’re reaching out to additional local businesses, grant-making bodies, and charitable organisations to expand our capacity, diversify supplies, and enhance service delivery. Holistic Community Support Beyond emergency food aid, we signpost families to financial advice, mental health services, and employment resources—tackling the root causes of deprivation. Why It Matters in Pillgwenlly Pillgwenlly faces entrenched challenges in income, employment, education, and health. Many residents confront systemic barriers—including limited access to public funds—and have been disproportionately affected by recent economic pressures. Our work not only meets immediate needs but also drives positive social change by: Building Resilience: Strengthening local support networks and encouraging self-sufficiency. Creating Opportunity: Connecting people with training, volunteering, and employment pathways. Promoting Inclusion: Ensuring our services remain accessible to everyone, regardless of background or circumstance. Extending our Impact We are continuously inviting businesses, funders, and volunteers to partner with us in delivering measurable social good. Whether through financial contributions, in-kind donations, or hands-on volunteering, your support will directly: * Increase the number of weekly food parcels. * Extend holiday meal provision to more children in need. * Provide mentorship, training sessions, and community events that strengthen neighbourhood ties. Together, we can transform short-term relief into lasting, systemic change by fueling dignity, support, and opportunities.