M&S Chorlton

Community in Action supports our neighbourhood by reducing food waste, sharing surplus, and promoting wellbeing. We aim to build connection, care for each other, and make our community stronger through practical help and learning. About Us Who we are Community in Action is a grassroots, volunteer-led initiative based in Brooklands. We work together to rescue good surplus food from supermarkets and share it with local people and community centres. Our vision is simple: a neighbourhood where food is not wasted, and everyone feels supported and connected, not just with food, but with emotional and practical care. We’re not a charity or a business, just neighbours taking action for each other, with love and purpose. What We Do Supermarket Surplus Collections We collect surplus food from local supermarkets, fresh fruit and veg, bakery goods, tins, dairy and more, that would otherwise go to waste. Redistribution We share this food directly with local community centres, families, and individuals. We also host local food sharing tables where anyone is welcome. Free Well-Being Training and Support In addition to food, we offer free well-being support to anyone in our network. This includes: • Drop-in listening spaces • Group support sessions • Training in emotional resilience, self-care, and compassionate communication We believe food feeds the body, and connection feeds the heart. Community Support Whether it’s helping a youth group, supporting a women’s circle, or offering care during difficult times, we show up with warmth and respect. No forms, no judgment , just neighbour-to-neighbour kindness. What People Say “We’re really grateful for what you do to support the centre in providing much needed food for the community, and it all goes really quickly.” — Community Centre Manager “The well-being session really helped me feel less alone. It gave me something to hold onto.” — Workshop participant

Southway Housing Trust are aiding in the fight against food poverty by giving support to those who need it most. The rise in food poverty and surge in the use of food banks has shown that many low income families are finding it difficult to feed and provide for their families. This has led to Southway's Quids In initiative to bring people together and tackle food poverty. Quids In operates 5 Food Club in South Manchester. Our membership has risen, since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, to around 280 low income and vulnerable households every week. This is an increase of nearly 50% so there are more challenges than ever before around getting enough food and we have waiting lists we’re trying hard to work through as quickly as possible. Usual operation: Members pay £3 and can then visit our small shop and choose around £15 worth of fresh, chilled and ambient food supplied by food redistribution charity Fareshare and other donations. The clubs also act as a means of referring members to other support services. We now have 5 shops supported by volunteers serving Chorlton, Burnage and Withington areas of Manchester.

The Food Rescue Group at Manchester mobilises an active and committed network of student volunteers and community partners from across the city. Led by students from local universities, the group turns climate concern into practical action by addressing food waste at a grassroots level. Food waste is a major driver of climate change. Valuable resources such as land, water, and energy are consumed to produce food, yet large quantities are discarded and sent to landfill, where they generate methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. By rescuing surplus food and redirecting it to people who need it, the group reduces environmental harm while supporting families and individuals across Manchester. The initiative works in partnership with local producers, retailers, and food businesses to ensure surplus food is used rather than wasted. These partnerships reduce disposal costs for businesses while delivering measurable environmental benefits. In Manchester, operations are powered by students from the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Bolton, and the Royal Northern College of Music, alongside members of the Hindu community and other local groups. Together, they demonstrate how student-led action can create meaningful climate impact. Pickup and distribution in Manchester are coordinated by Haojun Shuai and Ramanujam Nagarajan, who manage volunteer schedules, oversee collections, and ensure rescued food is delivered promptly and safely. Their leadership supports efficient operations while keeping the group’s work firmly rooted in student engagement and community values. Food is collected and redistributed within 15 minutes of pickup, ensuring freshness and removing the need for storage facilities. All items are carefully inspected to meet food safety standards, and any unsuitable food is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and quantities. Through this work, the Food Rescue Group at Manchester diverts significant volumes of food from landfill, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves valuable resources, and strengthens community connections. As the group continues to grow, it remains committed to showing how student-led climate action can drive real change, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.