B&Q Cambridge

My partner and I run a Facebook group of 5200+ people where we upload and distribute surplus food from local cafe's/shops and people themselves can upload excess food from their own homes. Please feel free to join our Facebook page to follow our growth, progress or perhaps even come to The Hub and see us! We work with a local preschool which we know through our children to distribute more food around the area in which is resides as it is in a different part of town and therefore opens up to redistribution in another area. We want to expand this to further shops/supermarkets and places to help out local community of Haverhill even more during this cost of living crisis. We operate from Charterhouse Industrial Estate where we have The Hub to enable us to do this in a safer more controlled environment away from our home address so we can focus on the group and increase it beyond it's current capacity with every passing week. We identify people through their locality to Haverhill (surrounding villages included) and their needs are not required to be known as our aim is to save food from going waste, it has the side affect of aiding people within our group too. We do not charge for what we provide however do accept donations towards running costs via a donation bucket and have an Amazon Wishlist for people to purchase items which support the Collections. For us it is about stopping food waste going to landfill and therefore any monetary return to us personally wouldn't sit right with us. We used to collect surplus food and distribute it through the Olio app for Tesco, Iceland and a few other smaller outlets however since January 2023 we have grown from there to use fare share and neighbourly but for us this is only the beginning of something which we want to increase as time goes on. A few Christmas's ago we had an article done on us by a local newspaper, the link for which is below. https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/haverhill/news/scheme-s-food-waste-heroes-help-to-feed-people-in-need-9233684/ We work with our kids preschool (Castlefields) who are part of Neighbourly, to collect from Aldi, lidl, sainsburys, B and Q so that they get all fresh produce/items that can be used within the preschool setting and we distribute what cannot be used there through the Facebook group. This is something that we are keen to continue to do and support. Outside of Neighbourly we also collect from Tesco, Waitrose, Bookers, Co-Op and other smaller shops which have local out reaches.

Abbey People is a vibrant community charity in the Abbey Ward of Cambridge, improving the lives and wellbeing of Abbey residents. We do this through targeted community projects, provision of general anti-poverty support such as a community Food Hub, supporting access to education and employment, projects to improve the environment, and by developing a culture of volunteering in the community.

The Food Rescue Group, Cambridge is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers from the University of Cambridge, local colleges, and the wider community. Together, they share a commitment to environmental sustainability, responsible resource use, and supporting those in need within their city. Food waste presents an urgent global and local challenge. Around one third of all food produced worldwide is wasted, and when this surplus ends up in landfill it generates methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Reducing food waste is therefore both an environmental necessity and a social responsibility, as rescued food can play a meaningful role in supporting households facing food insecurity. The group works in close partnership with local producers, independent retailers, and supermarkets to rescue surplus food before it is discarded. These collaborations create shared benefits by reducing disposal costs for businesses, minimising environmental impact, and ensuring nutritious food reaches people and community groups across Cambridge. Operations are designed around efficiency, care, and food quality. Surplus food is collected and redistributed within 15 minutes of pickup, ensuring freshness while eliminating the need for storage. This rapid turnaround also helps reduce emissions associated with refrigeration and extended supply chains. Food safety is central to all activities. Volunteers are trained to inspect food immediately upon collection to ensure it meets strict safety standards. Any items deemed unsuitable are disposed of responsibly to prevent environmental harm. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, allowing volunteers to receive real-time updates and respond quickly and effectively to collections. The impact of the initiative in Cambridge is both environmental and social. Each kilogram of food rescued avoids landfill-related emissions while supporting households and community organisations. Beyond the food itself, the initiative strengthens local connections, fosters shared responsibility, and contributes to a more resilient and sustainable community. Since its launch, the Cambridge Food Rescue Group has diverted significant quantities of food from landfill, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, conserved valuable resources, and brought people together around a shared purpose. Change happens one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time, and Cambridge continues to play an important role in that change.