ALDI DALKEITH - THORNYBANK IND. ESTATE

The Food Rescue Group, Edinburgh was established by Suyash Mishra, a student at the University of Edinburgh, to address the growing challenges of food waste, climate change, and local food insecurity. In an era defined by environmental strain, resource scarcity, and ecological imbalance, this initiative is both timely and essential. A core focus of our work is tackling food waste, a significant issue that results in the loss of valuable resources and contributes substantially to methane emissions from landfill. Addressing this problem is both an environmental necessity and a moral responsibility, as redistributing surplus food can provide meaningful support to local families and individuals in need. We work closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is rescued rather than discarded. These partnerships allow businesses to reduce disposal costs while delivering measurable environmental and social benefits to the community. The day-to-day operation of the Food Rescue Group is led and managed by Suyash and Marina, who oversee all aspects of the initiative. This includes coordinating volunteers, organising surplus food collections, communicating with retailers and partner organisations, managing collection schedules, arranging distribution, responding to last-minute changes, and ensuring food reaches recipient locations safely and on time. Their hands-on management helps maintain an efficient, reliable, and community-centred operation across Edinburgh. Our mission is powered by dedicated local volunteers who collect and distribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available. This rapid turnaround ensures freshness, removes the need for storage, and helps maintain high standards of food safety and quality. Every item is carefully inspected, and any food deemed unsuitable is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Volunteer coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and available quantities. Suyash and Marina use this system to coordinate volunteers, respond quickly to changing collection requirements, and ensure the smooth running of rescue and redistribution activities. Through this initiative, we are reducing methane emissions and resource waste by diverting surplus food from landfill. Our work supports those in immediate need while remaining open to anyone who values food, sustainability, and responsible consumption. By engaging a broad cross-section of the community, we aim to foster shared ownership of the solution to food waste. As we continue to develop and refine our approach, we are making meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. Join us in Edinburgh and help make a difference, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

food facts friends is a Community Project which has been set up to address the issue of food waste. We have volunteers ,who will collect the available produce from shops in the area, and make it available at our central location. This is a panrty with a fridge and is in . the hub and you can fill a bag for £ 1.00 or use the panrty ...

We area Community Pantry following the Pantry model. We serve the residents of Central Dalkeith and Woodburn. Membership is free. Members then pay £3.50 a week to shop in the Pantry, we supply only ambient food items and purchase these from local supermarkets, this includes household cleaning items, toiletries such as toothpaste, soap, deodorants, mens shaving items etc . On top of this we supply free fruit, vegetables purchased weekly, and bread/bakery items. Free period products/ incontinence items, free pet food and free of charge any donations from received to our membership. We started the Pantry in October 2022 and now have in excess of 350 members. The organisation is run by volunteers. We are open every Friday from 1.30pm to 5.30pm. The reduction of food waste is one of our goals and to that end perishable items left at the end is distributed locally, as part of the local pantry network we pass on fresh fruit and vegetables to the nearby Newtongrange Pantry who operated on a Sunday and items that have to be used sooner are given to local groups and organisations. We are hoping to start our own food growing operation in the future. We try to help with the cost of living crisis in a positive way by offering a food with dignity approach, we are a community Pantry not a Poverty Pantry We operate the pantry within the Woodburn Community Hub in Woodburn, Dalkeith, the building is owned by Midlothian Council, it is used by other community groups and the Pantry has full use of the building on Fridays.. We supply ambient food from the Pantry, we also offer chilled and frozen items. Our members have 10 points to spend in the Pantry, each product is marked as either 1 point or 2 points in value. An average shop equates to around £15/£20. We are working closely with our local CAB and have regular visits from the likes of Changeworks to help people with their We are constantly talking with our members to find out what their needs are and see how best to help them through this cost of living crisis.