ALDI METEOR WAY

As a not-for-profit social enterprise with purely charitable aims, we provide support and help to disadvantaged groups in the Derby area including refugees, the unemployed and homeless living in hardship and facing destitution. We, therefore, provide regular daily food bank services as part of our overall Food-Share project. We currently support over 930 people in hardship and the numbers increasing every week due to energy and living costs and other social and economic issues within the UK society. The current users of our services include: => 226 Asylum Seekers from different backgrounds, => 188 Refugees from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, and Kurdish backgrounds, => 194 Refugees from Ukraine, => 266 Unemployed or on Universal Credits program from different backgrounds, => 34 Homeless from all different backgrounds, => 28 Other Meanwhile, people who access our Food-Share services can also benefit from the following charitable services and community activities: Clothing bank services, Capacity-building services including English classes and IT digital workshops, Sewing and Patch-working classes, Healthy cooking workshops, Community Cohesion events, outreaching, befriending and socializing opportunities, Employment support including training, job search and admin support for the unemployed, Capacity-building support including Maths/ English/ESOL courses, and volunteering opportunities for people from all backgrounds.

Betel UK is a family of charitable Christian recovery communities who restore homeless and substance-dependent people to productive, independent lifestyles. Our purpose is to rescue those on the slippery slope of homelessness and addiction who want to rebuild their lives but can’t get into overburdened, under-funded rehabs. Betel offers entrance to new residents quickly, often within 24 hours of contacting us. One focus of our mission is to bring abstinence into the mainstream again, to declare and demonstrate that drug-free lifestyles are achievable and sustainable. We believe that people deserve the dignity to live free of life-controlling substances, rather than be led by policy and practice to expect life-long dependencies on prescribed opiates or alcohol. If addiction is a disease, our conviction is that it is an alterable disease of the will, self-induced, no matter how a person’s environment or genetics may predispose them. Hard-working Betel residents grow to understand the importance self-responsibility plays in their own long-term recovery. Our support services are free of charge making us be accessible to everyone regardless of financial means. Most of our funding for daily operations (over 85%) is generated through our charitable businesses and workshops, which train our residents to build employable skills. Betel residents agree to sign off primary benefits (Income support/Job Seekers Allowance) to further encourage their break with dependency in pursuit of building a strong and meaningful work ethic. Residents help to fund their own recovery by being involved in our charitable businesses. This significantly reduces the financial burden on their families and government, while restoring dignity and a sense of purpose. This meaningful work takes many forms, from the introduction to the necessity of daily chores in our residences, to working with our charity businesses. These are Furniture Restoration; House Removals/Clearances/Deliveries; Garden Maintenance and Landscaping; Tree Surgery; Charity Shop Retail Sales. We contract jobs with the local public, the government, businesses, churches and charities as our main means of funding Betel’s charitable activities. Betel is committed to expanding into all major cities in the UK and Ireland as properties/funding become available. We now have the climate in the UK to help provide a real alternative option to reduce crime and improve social cohesion. We're doing this by building relationships within the Criminal Justice Sector and local community organisations. Our men and women are willing to help fund their own recovery to a large degree and be an example to others needing help. Even so, opening new centres and developing new partnerships takes time and support. BETEL GIVES A HOPE TO THE HOPELESS AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE - YOUR SUPPORT CAN HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

-Helping families and individuals who are struggling to put food on their tables in the face of today's cost-of-living crisis. As members, it gives them the dignity of choosing and purchasing their shopping but for a fraction of the cost of a supermarket. Because food will be sourced which is excess to supermarket requirements, thousands of tonnes of food will be saved from being wasted each year. Members will also be able to access free support and courses such as budgeting, healthy cooking and employment skills. People will also be able to sit and have a chat over a cup of coffee with our friendly team. We want to support people to help them thrive in life. Members will be able to join for around £5 per year. This will allow them to make up to 3 visits per week and contribute a set price of £6 per shop. In return, each member will receive a range of good, wholesome food, valued up to £25. When people apply to join, the purpose of the project will be explained, but no one will be "means tested". Everyone who wants to access the grocers is welcome. Whilst some of the food will be donated, some fresh food and other essential food and hygiene supplies will be purchased at wholesale prices. Over 20 Community Grocers have already been successfully launched across the UK - it's a tried and tested model. As a further part of the membership benefits we offer a variety of free courses that will be held in the community hub. These will be mentioned as part of the membership benefits on application. The courses provided will include: Alpha course, Financial fitness, Healthy cooking, Health and wellbeing, Arts and crafts, employability, CV writing and more. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Community Grocers and hope to help change the lives of many folks in and around Derby.