Lidl Stratford On Avon

Alcester Community Fridge is based in the grounds of Alcester Baptist Church. Six days a week we open our doors to anyone who wishes to come and help themselves to good food that otherwise would have ended up in landfill. We strongly believe in stopping good food going to waste, supporting the needs of the community, and helping to make a difference. We work with local supermarkets and food producers and have a team of volunteers who give up their time to help make this happen.

Net Zero Stratford is a local organisation working to build spaces for climate awareness and community action in Stratford-upon-Avon. We run a weekly community kitchen in the north of Stratford, a monthly repair cafe, and a climate hub in the town centre. We are a community interest company registered with Companies House. Our Community Kitchen uses surplus food, cooked by local volunteers, to deliver meals to members of the local community. We are open every Friday evening, from 5 - 6 pm, for anyone to attend, on a pay as you feel basis. We usually cater for on average 23 people a week, from a variety of backgrounds, and there is always an inclusive, friendly atmosphere. People are also able to collect a meal to take home, and can also take surplus food that has not been used in the meals (there's always a lot of bread!). We are based at the Ken Kennett Centre, at 100 Justins Ave, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 0DA. As well as Neighbourly, we work together with the Clopton Action Group, which runs the Centre, and with the national food redistribution organisation FareShare, to deliver this project. Our climate hub is an information drop-in centre in the town centre, offering regular activities, recycling opportunities, and support with technologies like solar panels and heat pumps and other climate questions. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please get in touch. We are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10 am and 2 pm. We also run a repair cafe on the first Saturday of every month, together with Stratford Town Trust, at Stratford-upon-Avon Methodist Church.

The project was started by two Parish Councils - Marston Sicca and Quinton (although it’s now under Marston Sicca only) along with volunteers from surrounding villages including Welford on Avon. The main objectives were to support individuals and families who were struggling to support themselves (fuelled by Covid 19) . This encompassed three main areas of focus: 1)To ensure sufficient food was available for the most vulnerable 2)To help individuals who were struggling with isolation 3)To create assistance to families who required additional support (education, counselling etc.,) Despite there being government led initiatives, we found local problems to be diverse including delays to benefits and other related issues. By bringing specific local help, the project organisers looked to tackle basic needs and to create community initiatives. The supply of food is by far the largest element within our community led programme The food welfare programme is managed by the Parish Council The Pavilion is a community centre and hosts a food share programme but also a subsidised café, and learning support. It provides employment for those with leaning difficulties and also meeting clubs for the vulnerable (including our Parkinsons Club). We ensure all food related support schemes are managed with strict controls with a dedicated space and fridges for food surplus.