B&Q Huddersfield

We want to be able support those people who are temporarily unable to afford to support themselves in our local area with regular access to a healthy range of foods, both fresh produce and longer life easy to cook foodstuffs.

The Branch is a community charity based in Paddock, Huddersfield, working alongside local people to reduce poverty, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community connections. We provide practical support, community activities, volunteering opportunities, and access to advice and services, helping individuals and families overcome challenges and build brighter futures. Food insecurity remains a significant challenge for many local households. Through our FoodShare programme, we redistribute surplus food that would otherwise go to landfill, providing affordable access to nutritious food while reducing environmental waste. In 2025/26, FoodShare provided the equivalent of 43,131 meals, saved 27,562kg of food from landfill, and prevented an estimated 43,931kg of CO₂ emissions. We also provided emergency food support, shopping assistance and hot meals for people facing crisis situations. The Branch is part of the leadership team for Good Food for All Kirklees, a borough-wide partnership working to create a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system. Through this role, we help coordinate organisations, support community food initiatives, share good practice and advocate for improved access to healthy, affordable food across Kirklees. Alongside food provision, we offer practical welfare support including energy top-ups, grocery vouchers, clothing, furniture, white goods and household essentials. We support people experiencing poverty, poor mental health, disability, domestic abuse, addiction, isolation and other complex challenges. During 2025/26, we delivered 280 community social actions, helping people meet immediate needs while improving their long-term wellbeing. We recognise that wellbeing extends beyond crisis support. Through digital inclusion sessions, health promotion activities, mindfulness, skills development opportunities and signposting to specialist services, we help people build confidence, resilience and independence. Creating opportunities for connection is at the heart of our work. Our community groups and activities welcomed more than 15,000 visits during the year through programmes such as Melody Makers, Lunch Club, Get Active, Computer Corner and FoodShare. We also deliver family activities, holiday programmes, workshops and community events that reduce isolation, strengthen relationships and create opportunities for people to belong and contribute. Volunteers are central to everything we do. During 2025/26, volunteers contributed more than 5,900 hours of their time, supporting food provision, community activities, events, fundraising and practical assistance. By combining immediate practical support with long-term community development, The Branch helps create a stronger, healthier and more connected community where people feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

We signpost to three houses where people can stay short to mid term and have had people come through to have tenancies of their own elsewhere. We support a community cafe and food / consumables larder We can refer to partner charities for long term support We offer volunteer experience to be part of a growing community garden to learn skills, socialise and utilise the veg and herbs