Lidl Poole Branksome

- Supporting the local community - Collecting unsold food from supermarkets in the area - Carrying out a surplus food distribution 4 days a week on two sites - Working with other groups in the area to support the communities we live in - Supported by and working with 70x7

Poole Waste Not Want Not, (PWNWN) is a registered charity supplying food to members of the community to those people and their families that have insufficient disposable income and need support in coping with life. Every day of the week we collect food from different supermarkets and display it in our shop on the High Street. All food surplus collection is FREE to our members, giving them nutrition choices that they may not be able to afford. We operate Monday to Saturday from 10.30. a.m. – 3 p.m. This enables our registered members the choice of food, fresh fruits, vegetables, frozen, chilled, toiletries, and treats they would not normally be able to afford. This leads to a greater sense of dignity, choice, and control and facilitates budgeting skills. As well as providing access to affordable food PWNWN is developing other services such as menu planning, budgeting, and other activities to meet the needs of our client group and signposting if necessary. PWNWN relies heavily on volunteers (currently 32) who help with food collection, sorting, shelve stacking, till operations, pricing and labelling of frozen food, etc. Many of these are clients/users and PWNWN sees that providing volunteering opportunities, support and training can help with increasing confidence, self-esteem, and skills, so assisting in an improvement in their health, well-being, life, and working circumstances. Therefore, volunteers will be provided with structured support and direction to ensure they achieve real positive experiences and outcomes from their volunteering. Social supermarket: We collect surplus food from our local supermarkets to reduce food waste and then display it Free alongside our other food. Members can then visit the shop during opening times, chose what food they wish, and then take it to the till where they are asked to donate the suggested sums displayed on the shelves (about50/ 75% off the normal retail price). This leads to a greater sense of dignity, choice, and control and facilitates budgeting skills. As well as providing access to affordable food PWNWN is developing other services such as cooking techniques, budgeting, and other activities to meet the needs of our client group relating to food insecurity. Clients can also be referred via our local crisis team or food banks who provide in extreme cases an E- code to collect free food parcels, containing fresh and essential items, we will also signpost them to other service they may find helpful such as the wardrobe foundation for clothes, Community coffee shop: An area to provide work experience for our volunteers and a setting to encourage social interaction, informal activities, more formal support group activities, etc. Training: Our volunteers are our best resource, the benefit they gain from volunteering, is vital to our community the impact this has on our beneficiary to gain skills, provides a sense of purpose, and gives an opportunity to practice and develop social skills.

We help for the parents, kids and our community with events, with fundraisings. In addition to our efforts in supporting schools and local community families with food donations, with collaborates closely with other charitable organizations: We're humans and Salvation Army BH1 project, Southbourne Community Hub. Whenever we find ourselves with an excess or leftover donation, we make it a point to share it with these organizations, ensuring that no resources go to waste. By doing so, we extend our reach and impact beyond our immediate community. Within the local schools and charities, the long shelf life donations we provide are primarily given to the family support workers. These dedicated individuals are able to quickly and efficiently distribute the donations to families in urgent need of assistance. It is through their efforts that our donations reach those who require immediate help. However, our donations do not solely serve as a source of sustenance. They also play a vital role in enhancing the educational experience for our students. Whether it's through our clubs or classes, we utilize the donated items creatively. For instance, as shown in the pictures, bananas and biscuits were transformed into a delectable banana ball, offering a hands-on learning experience for our students. Furthermore, flowers were utilized by one year group to explore the various parts of a plant, while another year group learned the importance of healthy eating through the provision of salad. The Bethany and St Clement's schools' after-school club also benefited from the donated items, using flowers for craft activities and even turning ice pops into a thrilling treasure hunting game. By integrating these donations into our educational programs, we not only provide nourishment for the students' bodies but also stimulate their minds and encourage creativity. Overall, our commitment to food donation extends far beyond the immediate needs of our local schools and local community. Through collaboration with other charities and the creative use of donations in educational settings, we strive to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we reach.