ALDI MARTLESHAM HEATH

We are providing cheap affordable food using a unique format. While we have also ran a foodbank for the last five years and will continue to do so, we have found that there is a very significant percentage of those in need who do not use it for various reasons. Our unique BASIC Community Pop-Up shop idea has transformed the lives of many suffering from food insecurity. We now run four a week in Felixstowe (five fortnightly) and have now opened in Ipswich are six locations. The food, which is primarily supermarket excess, is offered to absolutely anybody who wishes to come along. We do not have any means tests or referral needs. They are literally open to anybody at all. A full list of the present locations can be found on our website under 'pop-up shops'. The result of the five years in Felixstowe has been an amazing reduction in the amount of referrals for food bank assistance as people in need know that they can go and choose the food they need from the pop-up's without any invasive questions of any kind. During 2020, despite the pandemic restrictions, we opened at six sites across the town of Ipswich and in 2021 we started to open at sites in more rural area's of Suffolk. To date we are open in Newmarket and in the village of Debenham. More sites are in the advance discussion stage.

Promoting understanding and education of all aspects of brain injury and all neuro conditions and providing information, support and services to acquired brain injury survivors, their families and carers in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Manna Pop Up Shop is open on alternate Monday evenings from 6-7.15pm. Customers (there are no criteria for entry) who can afford to, make a donation of £3 (cash or card) to fill a bag with food from 23 large tables of food (ambient, fresh and frozen, bread, fruit and vegetables) toiletries, household cleaning products and 6 large rails of clothing. Tea, coffee, homemade sausage rolls and cakes are provided for no charge. We have an average of 98 customers every time we open. In the last two years we have had more than 5200 customers. In 2024 we helped more than 300 different families from our community that included more than 700 adults and children, Manna is run in Christ Church, Felixstowe charity number 633496. The Compass Charity ( charity number 1195270) uses the upstairs of the church building. I am one of the three trustees. People that attend Manna can be referred to The Compass and vice versa. The Compass supports people with debt management, CV writing, benefit applications, job applications, attending appointments, fuel and food vouchers. Agencies within the town such as the job centre, social services, CAB, social care, schools, churches and other voluntary agencies refer people to Manna and The Compass. Paid workers and volunteers from The Compass attend each Manna to talk to customers. Through successful grant applications and some generous gifts Manna was able to buy a 40’ high cube shipping container placed in the church car park to provide storage for Manna. We have two large freezers and two upright refrigerators and some racking. The container is insulated, lined and meets electrical insulation, fire and carbon monoxide regulations. Manna was awarded 5 stars in a food safety inspection by Suffolk County Council in February 2023 Manna has no paid staff, but has more than 40 volunteers. Manna does not have a website, Facebook presence or X account. We collect food from M Morrisons which is just 100m away from the church building, the local bread shop and 7 supermarkets through FareShare Go/Foodiverse and Neighbourly.