ALDI GLOSSOP

We are a voluntary group who run projects which enhance the community and help to create a healthier lifestyle. We provide a range of activities from food for families, home delivery service of hot meals for locally elderly or less mobile people. We provide work experience with a view to volunteers returning to full or part-time employment. In addition we run community events and meals throughout the year. We work closely with other agencies such as Derbyshire Police, DCC Care in the Community, the Community Cafe, the local schools and nursery and both Derbyshire County Council and High Peak Borough Council. We also offer training courses for individuals to aid employment. We are a local, inclusive group aiming to bring our community together to help and support people through hard times.. We will enhance opportunities and learning to create a healthier and more responsible lifestyle, healthy eating, budgeting, recycling…through regular signposting and activities provided at low or no cost to the community. We welcome everyone, believing we are all equal and entitled to respect, freedom from hardship and hope.

We run Whitfield Community Centre, Whitfield Food Club, Community Cafe and a Kids club with snacks and drinks. We offer surplus affordable food at all of these several times a week. and help prevent food waste.

We recycle surplus food and help to support food poverty. During the pandemic we have increased the number of families we have supported from about 35 up to about 90 families a week totalling about 260 people. At different stages people have either been delivered a bag of groceries or have collected one on Thursdays. Alternate Tuesdays freshly cooked meals have been provided for the over 60s. During school holidays packed lunches have been made for school aged children. We are a Community Organisation with elected officers, a Constitution, full insurance and run by volunteers. Pre pandemic we met once a week on a Thursday. We offered soup, sandwiches or snacks made with some of the supermarket surplus food that we received and then visitors took home a bag of supplies; both perishables and non perishables, household and sanitary supplies. We also distributed bags of emergency essentials to people in crisis. We are called Bellies not bins and operate from the Carmel Church building in Hadfield. Our organisation has been going for 10 years. We provide an opportunity for people to meet and share some time together and support food poverty and reduce food waste. The volunteers have access to free training in food hygiene, first aid and manual handling which along with the work experience has helped several volunteers to get into employment. There is always someone on duty who has food hygiene training and supervises others in the safe handling and storage of food. As we are passionate about avoiding food waste we ask that people only take what they can use. If we have more than we need on any occasions we always ensure that we plan ahead by storing non perishables that are well within date or freezing items that are in date and can be frozen. Any surplus perishables will be made into soup or sent to other centres for distribution. Pre pandemic we offered a free hot meal for children and adults during the summer school holidays. This was aimed at helping those families who would normally receive free school meals. The meal was prepared by a qualified chef at her local cafe premises. If we are able to get more supplies we will be able to provide parcels to more people in need.