Lidl Sunderland Washington

In the North East alone over 800,000 tonnes of food waste is generated every year. That’s over a third of food produced for us to eat. We think that’s rubbish and we hope you agree. We use our cafe as a platform for campaigning and educating people about food waste. All members of the community are welcome and we get up to 600 people through our Cafe per week. We don’t see this food as ‘waste’, we see beautiful and valuable food, and we see the energy, time, fuel, water and other resources that have gone into making it, packaging it and getting it to our supermarket shelves. Join us in giving it value and stopping this waste of resources.

What are we doing - food coop - empowering and encouraging our customers. - building community. - debt advice service - engaging with the homeless and marginalised What do we hope to achieve - to expand our food coop - money budget course - overall objective is to help families and individuals come out of a place of deprivation and isolation, into a community where they can find help, support and community

Our organisation is a community‑focused initiative dedicated to improving lives, strengthening neighbourhoods, and expanding opportunities for people across Sunderland and the wider North‑East. We work across multiple social‑impact areas, including poverty alleviation, health and wellbeing, children and youth development, employability and skills, domestic abuse support, sports and recreation, digital skills, equality, diversity and inclusion, education and training, family support, community cohesion, and arts, culture and heritage. We support individuals and families experiencing hardship, food insecurity, unemployment, social isolation, domestic abuse, digital exclusion, and limited access to safe recreational or educational spaces. Our programmes include surplus‑food redistribution, wellbeing activities, youth mentoring, sports sessions, digital‑skills workshops, employability coaching, family‑support interventions, cultural activities, and inclusive community events. We work closely with schools, local authorities, partner charities, volunteers, and grassroots groups to ensure that support is accessible, dignified, and responsive to real community needs. Our organisation urgently needs surplus food donations, including fresh produce, non‑perishables, bakery items, dairy, and culturally appropriate foods. We also rely on volunteers to assist with food distribution, youth activities, digital‑skills support, sports coaching, community events, and administrative tasks. Partnerships with local businesses, funders, and service providers help us expand our reach and sustain vital programmes. Our mission is to build a healthier, safer, more inclusive community where every person—regardless of background or circumstance has the opportunity to thrive. Through practical support, education, creativity, and connection, we aim to reduce hardship, empower families, uplift young people, and strengthen community cohesion.