ALDI COLCHESTER - LONDON RD

We now have our premises as Tiptree Community Hub and as part of the hub services, we provide a community fridge and larder and a pre-loved school uniform service. We have developed relationships with many local supplier's in the village and we have 5 supermarket chains as well as a local Egg farm, Butcher's and Bakers that support our community fridge. We are also fortunate to the support of Wilkin and Sons in the village who make world famous jams and preserves as well as Perrywoods, the renowned garden centre, as well as the support from the neighbourly food suppliers. . We have many enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about helping promote the prevention of food waste as well as wanting to help those in need. We are gravely concerned about the rising prices for food, energy and fuel which is making many families, elderly and individuals have to choose between eating and fueling their homes and vehicles. We want to bolster the work of our amazing food bank in the village which is stretched to its limits and provide fresh food and advice on recipes to utilse food to its potential. We would welcome all support to access as many supplier's as possible. This includes donations from residents such as vegetables from gardens or excess food for example when they go away on holiday. Tiptree a hub is developing its services and will be a warm safe space, as well as providing a community cafe to help reduce social isolation. Being part of the community hub and fridge is not means tested and is available to all residents. It will not take away from the amazing work of our local food bank, it will add to it by providing fresh food and vegetables.

It is the aim of of Colchester Foodbank to help people, who for various reasons are in crisis and may not have enough money to buy food - we make it possible for them to receive a food parcel. Over 200 agencies in Colchester, including health and care professionals, social agencies, job centre, schools and churches, identify people in crisis and issue a client with a Foodbank voucher, which can be exchanged for a 3 day nutritionally balanced emergency food parcel approximately - 10 meals. We also listen to our clients needs which are often many and varied - we can then try and signpost them to other organisations that can hopefully give additional support in their time of crisis. We are a registered charity.

Wellies-On Community Interest Company (CIC) is a not for profit Care Farm. We use the everyday running of our mixed livestock farm as a vessel through which we can deliver transferable life skills and resilience, We believe in bringing together care of the land and animals with care of the people for mutual healing. Interactions with animals have been shown to improve health and well-being, especially in terms of mood and socialisation. "We take it for granted that we can go outside when we want to, enjoying fresh air, sunlight, plants and trees – and it generally makes us feel much better, relieving stresses of everyday living. Yet people in hospital, people in care homes and especially those with dementia are all too often not able to do this." - Dementia Services Development Centre. At Wellies-On CIC we have created the idea of the 'flat-pack farm' as an extension to our current provision. Flat-pack farm means that the farm can come to residents in their own home, hospital or residential setting with expert staff bringing along different farmyard animals and running nature based activities. It is not always possible for people to access the farm, through utilising the flat pack farm we are hoping to reach out to more people who are often in greater need of intervention. In addition, we understand that during the colder months, some people may prefer to complete indoor activities. We have animals that have been specifically trained to take part in activities and have been exposed to many situations making them ideal assistants in our work. The animals we are able to take out on visits are a small selection from our farm and include chickens, guinea pigs, dogs, pygmy goats, small Shetland ponies and seasonally lambs, kids, chicks etc. We hope that as a result of our interactions in the residential environments we will be able to gather evidence and opportunities for the residents to be able to progress and where appropriate, venture out of the home / hospital environment and take part in our on farm community and activities. We believe that there is something for everyone to be part of on the farm. The clients that attend Wellies-On CIC care farm get involved in everything from grooming to milking, bedding down the animals to leading them in and out, planting things in the garden & woodland, cooking, sweeping the yard area and everything else in between. Service users work with a team of highly qualified teachers, mental health professionals, trainee occupational therapists and support staff, often in small groups or on a 1 to 1 basis. In all cases they are working towards a better quality of life. Being in a farm environment and taking part in farm based occupations has been shown to provide individuals with multi-sensory stimulation, physical activity, cognitive stimulation, a source of vitamin D, regulation of sleep patterns, and the opportunity to reminisce and share memories from their lives.