ALDI PORTOBELLO

Polish Family Support Centre is a charity organisation founded in 2009. It focuses on providing psychological help and advocacy support to Polish citizens in Scotland. Passionate staff and volunteers offer a unique array of services and specialised knowledge which is available to all Poles in Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh. The beneficiaries are children, adults, and elderly people who are struggling with various problems related to living abroad and experiencing the effects of language barriers: loneliness, depression, homesickness, isolation, etc. The aim of the organisation is to improve their emotional wellbeing, mental health, and financial standing. The Polish Family Support Centre operates from 19 Smith's Place, Edinburgh, EH68NU. We have been working with Polish migrants since 2009, and identify service users through community outreach, referrals from local schools, social services, and healthcare providers, as well as through self-referrals. Needs are assessed via intake interviews, where we discuss each family’s unique circumstances. This approach allows us to personalize the support provided. We take pride in offering comprehensive support for disadvantaged individuals and families including counselling, psychotherapy, workshops, and social and advocacy services. Our unwavering commitment is primarily to address the mental health challenges faced by Polish people living in a foreign country. We stand firm in our support for vulnerable members of our community, including the homeless, low-income families, single parents, disadvantaged youth, and children. Our services are free, however if we do not have funding for particular project we ask for donations. Yes, we partner with local retailers and supermarkets to collect surplus food, currently we collect every Tuesday from Aldi Portobello. All photos and information about our latest events, support services etc. can be found on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PsychologEdinburgh We are in a close partnership with Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Edinburgh and cooperate on many initiatives related to good causes, e.g. Christmas presents for vulnerable children, food parcels for vulnerable families etc.

The Food Rescue Group, Edinburgh was established by Ankita Gupta, a student at the University of Edinburgh, to address the growing challenges of food waste, climate change, and local food insecurity. In an era defined by environmental strain, resource scarcity, and ecological imbalance, this initiative is both timely and essential. A core focus of our work is tackling food waste, a significant issue that results in the loss of valuable resources and contributes substantially to methane emissions from landfill. Addressing this problem is both an environmental necessity and a moral responsibility, as redistributing surplus food can provide meaningful support to local families and individuals in need. We work closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is rescued rather than discarded. These partnerships allow businesses to reduce disposal costs while delivering measurable environmental and social benefits to the community. Local food collection and distribution across Edinburgh is led by Suyash and Mariana, with vital support from Ankita and Alba , who oversees volunteer scheduling, manages collections, and ensures timely delivery to recipient locations. Their leadership helps maintain efficiency, safety, and a strong community-centred approach in all our operations. Our mission is powered by dedicated local volunteers who collect and distribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available. This rapid turnaround ensures freshness, removes the need for storage, and upholds the highest standards of food safety and quality. Every item is carefully inspected, and any food deemed unsuitable is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Volunteer coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and available quantities. This streamlined communication system enables fast response times and ensures the smooth running of our rescue and redistribution efforts. Through this initiative, we are significantly reducing methane emissions and resource waste by diverting large volumes of food from landfill. Our work benefits those in immediate need while remaining open to anyone who values food, sustainability, and responsible consumption. By engaging a broad cross-section of the community, we foster shared ownership of the solution to food waste. As we continue to refine our approach, we are making meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. Join us in Edinburgh and help make a difference, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

The objects for which the charity is established are:- The prevention and/or relief of poverty by promoting and/or delivery of services, alone or in conjunction with others, that provide support and advice to people who are homeless or in other ways disadvantaged and vulnerable. The advancement of health by the promotion and/or delivery of services, alone or in conjunction with others, that encourage and emphasise healthy lifestyle matters to people who are homeless or in other ways disadvantaged and vulnerable. The advancement of community development by the promotion and/or delivery, alone or in conjunction with others, of learning and employability opportunities enabling people who are homeless or in other ways disadvantaged and vulnerable to be socially included and economically contribute to civic life. The advancement of education in the community by promoting and/or delivery of services, alone or in conjunction with others, that assist people who are homeless or in other ways disadvantaged and vulnerable with literacy, numeracy, life skills, work skills and social activities. The advancement of environmental protection and/or improvement by the promotion and/or delivery of services, alone or in conjunction with others, that reuse and/or recycle items from the waste stream. The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, financial hardship or other disadvantage by promoting and/or delivery of services, alone or in conjunction with others, that provide support, advice, practical assistance and opportunity to improve their circumstances. The promotion of equality and diversity by encouraging participation and integration into a range of inclusive and accessible programmes which strive to bring together a cross section of the community. We identify service users and their needs by referral, assessment, feedback equalities forum. Our organisation offers services to those in young people homeless hostels, domestic violence hostels and there is no charge for any services provided by our organisation.