ALDI POULTON-LE-FYLDE

We run two family centres in Blackpool providing volunteering opportunities. We provide free family meals, family breakfast on Saturday,we do a Sunday lunch once a month. We have a kids club on a Monday. Our volunteer ms donate three hours of there time and this gains them 12 points which they can spend in the pantry. We raise people confidence through our volunteering opportunities and offer the chance to lean new skills which increase a persons health and wellbeing

Our charity plays a crucial role in community outreach, addressing widespread issues such as loneliness, debt, and poverty within the area. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where individuals can connect, enjoy fellowship, and access much-needed support. Our primary objectives include supporting families, helping individuals struggling to meet basic needs, and providing education, empowerment, and personalised support to uplift the community. Our Forward Project, a significant initiative, was launched to work closely with the community on several pressing issues. These include tackling loneliness, poor health outcomes, unhealthy diets, digital and racial exclusion, and the rising prevalence of mental health conditions. At the heart of our ethos is a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that everyone feels welcome, regardless of their background, sexuality, disability, or religious belief. To further enhance accessibility and utility, we have recently transformed our church into a vibrant community hub. This space not only serves as a sanctuary but also as a dynamic centre for learning, social interaction, and support services. By fostering a sense of belonging and community, we aim to create a more connected, resilient, and empowered populace.

Blackpool Food Bank has been in existence since February 2012 and has undergone considerable growth to become a supplier of food to a network of 100+ partner organisations across the Fylde Coast. These partner organisations include statutory services such as adult and child social care, schools, nurseries, NHS, housing services, third sector organisations, groups who support homeless and rough sleepers, young carers, children and baby community groups, faith sector and community groups, hostels, and substance misuse recovery centres. We also provide an emergency food parcel service, working in collaboration with professionals such as the Citizens Advice Centre, Blackpool Council, and NHS, crisis teams to support families and individuals in desperation. We also host network meetings with our partners to coordinate information and empower the “front line” to enable them to further support the end user. The Charity's vision is to see communities where everyone has access to fresh, nourishing food, and no food goes to waste. The Big Food Project rescues edible, nutritious, surplus food and redistributes it to over 8,0000 people across our network every month. Our main objectives are: • To build a sustainable organisation by making the best use of our human, physical, and financial resources. • To grow and develop Blackpool’s resilience with network leadership and establish/ lead a collaborative approach to address food insecurity. • To develop our supply chain and relationships with the back of supply chain partners to rescue and repurpose larger quantities of food to minimize food waste.