B&Q Halesowen

Formerly known as The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham, Incredible Surplus has been operating since 2014. Since then, we have redistributed over 1800 tonnes of waste food, cooked and served over 36,000 meals, helped 100 people achieve a Level 2 Food Safety Certificate, and seen dozens of volunteers move on into paid employment. All this would never have been possible without our amazing bank of volunteers and without the ongoing support of our donors and partner organisations. Our volunteers intercept food and other items that would otherwise go to waste from supermarkets, restaurants and other sources and redistribute them on a “Pay-As-You-Feel” basis. We run a series of community venues on a weekly across Birmingham and Solihull. We also ‘pop up’ at other venues. Please see www.incrediblesurplus.org for more info. The food we intercept has to be fit for human consumption and therefore we do not take food that has reached its Use By date, but we can take food past its Best Before date. Alongside food donations we also receive non-food items such as toilet rolls, household items, toys, and clothes, which we can redistribute across Birmingham at regular venues and via partner organisations. Our project is for everyone and we attract a wide range of people. In the main however, we feed people who are in food poverty; this includes the homeless, refugees, single parents, people with mental health problems. What is unique with us is that anyone can access the donated items or food on a Pay As You Feel basis. All give something back in return, whether this be a cash donation, their time, or skills. This system helps to prevent stigmatisation as well as fostering an enabling approach. Our project is predominantly run by volunteers. We have just a handful pf paid staff who are paid the living wage and volunteer extra hours on top. Many of our volunteers hold level 2 Food Hygiene Certificates, and a number of our volunteers have gained skills and qualifications and now have moved onto paid work. We're always on the look out for more donors/suppliers and volunteers!

Our vision is to continue to develop the Helping Hand Community project and build it into a truly community group where everyone can be involved and make a difference. All funds will be reinvested into the project, enabling fundraising events to be held and mobile food banks to be set up in various areas.  We have built strong relationships with a variety of organisations, community groups and local hostels and shelters to ensure surplus food goes to the people in most need. Officially formed in 2023, we have been serving the community since 2018. Over the years, we have built relationships and work with fantastic organisations to help those who need it the most.

We have been active now for the best part of 7 years and we have assisted many People who have had or are experiencing a multitude of social issues. We have created real and positive changes through active care, support and person-centred progression. Our team has recently had a change of Directoship and new members have joined us with fresh ideas and projects in the pipeline as we move forward. While our focus is still the same: to help people in any ways that we are able to, our approach has changed slightly and we are now moving into a more faith based / Christ lead chapter. ** Christian faith based weekly meetings ** offering Prayer to those who would like it ** Rwmaining Grassroots & Person centred ** Assisting People in local Communities ** Reducing Rough sleeper numbers in Birmingham & the West Midlands in partnership with housing providers ** Promoting clean living through making healthy options ** Promoting positive mental health ** Supporting Children & Families with Food ** Food wastage reduction ** Drug & Alcohol awareness & signposting to services ** Mental Health First Aid ** Clothing recycling ** Offering 1 to 1 Spiritual support Our first project SBC Family, a direct action, self funded family of friends, is now in it's almost 10th Year of assisting people directly on the Roads of Birmingham and has assited many People, Our Road Lovelies, each month with essentials such as food, clothing, hot meals, food parcels and most importantly, Love. We are helping people to see that a bad day does not mean a bad life and that with guidance many positive things are possible.