ALDI KINGSTANDING

Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.

We are a ministry without walls. Our mandate is to be an answer to those who need help the most. At present we do food distribution within the west Bromwich area on a Saturday and in Birmingham City Centre on a Monday evening/night. Our goal is to find a building that we could use as a homeless shelter, to cater for the needs of our growing homeless community. As to work as an advocate to help them back into our communities. We self fund our project with the help from Tesco supermarket and Greggs bakery donations. We also have a project for children and young people called MisFits Mentorship. MisFits Mentorship aims to engage marginalised children and youth their rights to health and education services in the Birmingham. The project was created to bring together local young people in a safe place to find support with life issues that they are experiencing today. Our aim is to support and promote the health and well-being of young people in Birmingham and the surrounding area by offering advice, guidance, counselling, mental health awareness, wellbeing activities and social prescribing.

The Living Stones Pantry is housed within a dedicated space within our Media Centre. This designated area serves as the heart of our operations, where we diligently work to provide support and resources to those in our community who are in need. We extend our services to the entire community, with a particular focus on assisting families and the elderly, often referred to us through word of mouth. Each session offers warm drinks and light refreshments, fostering a welcoming atmosphere where individuals can engage in friendly conversation while awaiting their shopping slot. Service users contribute £5 per shop (£5 goes back into running costs - Utilities, rent, staff), receiving an average of £15-20 worth of food and household items, while refreshments are provided free of charge. Additionally, we host tea and coffee gatherings every Tuesday morning. As members of FareShare Go, we have the privilege of accessing surplus food from both Tesco and ASDA. Additionally, we've recently become paid members of FareShare, who have provided positive feedback following their inspection of our facilities. This partnership allows us to further our mission of reducing food waste and supporting those in need within our community. Our CAP Money Coaches can also provide budgeting courses on an when needed basis. Having access to such courses can empower individuals to take control of their finances and make informed decisions about their money.