Lidl London - Kingston

Save the World Club (SWC) is an environmental creative arts, education and entertainment charity. At SWC’s heart is a commitment to improving the well-being of individuals and communities and protecting the environment demonstrating imaginative skills and solutions and having fun, so we can all live in healthier and more sustainable ways. SWC was set up 30 years ago by Des Kay. The organisation was primarily concerned with Des using recycled materials to create unique kinetic and mechanical structures which told children and family audiences stories of waste and gave other important environmental messages. After many successful years, Professor Kayoss is a legend and SWC has grown to an organisation with thousands of committed supporters. Over the years, we have created Award-winning large community mosaic artworks with thousands involved throughout the process of creation. Using waste materials, many are on display around Kingston Town and the Borough. Our remit for cutting waste extends to monitoring what gets thrown away, and rescuing items able to be recirculated, either as themselves, or through upcycling to something else. We are also key collectors of surplus food that we distribute daily, to local charities, institutions and others in need.

This project supports the fantastic work that Palmer House does for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. I have been collecting food for this purpose for some ten years! Based in Croydon, Palmer House supports 60 single people up to 65 years of age with complex needs including experience of homelessness or rough sleeping, substance misuse and mental ill health. Customers are referred to Palmer House by the London Borough of Croydon and stay up to two years. The charity empowers them to make decisions about their support, including choosing their Support Worker. This person centred approach enables customers to identify their existing strengths and skills so they can achieve their goals and aspirations. The team at Palmer House believes customers can move beyond their current support needs and achieve their full potential by developing new skills and accessing opportunities. Whilst at Palmer House, customers engage in developing life and independent living skills including developing routine and structure, fostering positive relationships, healthy eating and cooking.

At The Real Junk Food Project (TRJFP), we collect surplus food and turn it into delicious warm meals that we serve in our Community cafes across the Borough. Food that we don’t use in our cooking is available for our guests to take away with them. Our aim is to feed bellies not bins, and everyone is welcome at TRJFP, particularly those experiencing food poverty, cost of living anxiety or a sense of social isolation. Operating since 2018, we now run 9 different sessions at 6 venues every week across the Borough, all on a ‘Pay as you Feel’ basis. Our team of 100 brilliant volunteers currently provide around 800 meals every week for our guests. Some of our sessions offer a food surplus hub and cafe, others just a surplus hub. Our venues are ETNA Community Centre in East Twickenham, the Cambrian Centre in Richmond, Linden Hall in Hampton, outside Noble Wines in Hampton Hill, Ham Youth Centre, and Achieving for Children in Ham. Details on what we offer at each venue and when we are open at www.trjfp-twickenham.com Our aim is to create friendly spaces where our guests come together over food to enjoy time together, making new friends or meeting with old ones. We are strong believers that feeling connected to others helps strengthen community spirit, fosters a sense of belonging and builds collective positivity. Our recent guest survey shows us that 88% of our visitors feel that coming to the Project helps them feel more connected to others in their community, and 75% feel a reduction in the food related stress they experience. "It’s good because you go there, you chat to people and they’re very helpful…. the people [volunteers] are friendly and, and it helps a lot with a few bits, you know. It does. Otherwise, it would cost you much more. I mean you go there; you pick up a few stuffs and...it helps a lot, you know" “…Incredible cooking. Feel loved, they make us feel at home, like a family. All of them look after this project like they are hosting in their own homes.” As a Project we are reliant on donations and grants to operate. On average, each meal we provide costs around £3.00 (which is made up of food transport and storage costs, venue rent, utility costs, food packaging, operating overheads etc). Our ambition is to continue to expand our offering, supporting every resident in the Borough who might need us. We rely on the generosity of others to be able to do so. Thank you to everyone who has supported TRJFP on our journey to date.