Sainsbury's Urmston

The Food Rescue Group at Manchester mobilises an active and committed network of student volunteers and community partners from across the city. Led by students from local universities, the group turns climate concern into practical action by addressing food waste at a grassroots level. Food waste is a major driver of climate change. Valuable resources such as land, water, and energy are consumed to produce food, yet large quantities are discarded and sent to landfill, where they generate methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. By rescuing surplus food and redirecting it to people who need it, the group reduces environmental harm while supporting families and individuals across Manchester. The initiative works in partnership with local producers, retailers, and food businesses to ensure surplus food is used rather than wasted. These partnerships reduce disposal costs for businesses while delivering measurable environmental benefits. In Manchester, operations are powered by students from the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Bolton, and the Royal Northern College of Music, alongside members of the Hindu community and other local groups. Together, they demonstrate how student-led action can create meaningful climate impact. Pickup and distribution in Manchester are coordinated by Haojun Shuai and Ramanujam Nagarajan, who manage volunteer schedules, oversee collections, and ensure rescued food is delivered promptly and safely. Their leadership supports efficient operations while keeping the group’s work firmly rooted in student engagement and community values. Food is collected and redistributed within 15 minutes of pickup, ensuring freshness and removing the need for storage facilities. All items are carefully inspected to meet food safety standards, and any unsuitable food is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and quantities. Through this work, the Food Rescue Group at Manchester diverts significant volumes of food from landfill, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves valuable resources, and strengthens community connections. As the group continues to grow, it remains committed to showing how student-led climate action can drive real change, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

About Betel We are a Christian charity dedicated to helping men, women and families facing social exclusion, including homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, and long-term unemployment. Our Mission At Betel UK, we're on a mission to transform lives through faith, community and hard work. We provide a safe and structured family-like environment, offering peer support to help individuals overcome the challenges they face. Our Approach Our unique approach doesn't rely on clinical programs or on-site doctors. Instead, we offer a supportive environment where residents are paired with brother- or sister-like mentors. For those in need, we work with medical specialists to provide medically assisted detox, followed by peer-led support. We provide a stable, consistent environment that promotes making daily choices towards freedom. Our Impact Today, Betel residences across the globe host more than 2,400 individuals seeking recovery, offering them a path to healing and independence. Our Locations We have several centers throughout England and Scotland, including Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Manchester, Hexham and Motherwell. Our residences are drug- and alcohol-free, providing training in life and employment skills, all at no cost. Our Redistribution Model We are a residency, and people join us to live for the duration of the 12 - 18 month programme. We provide all of the meals, drinks and snacks each day for our residents. That starts with breakfast, some men go out to work and take a packed lunch, some eat lunch on site, and then the evening meal. All drinks and snacks in between are provided as well. The men take turns and responsibility for preparing the meals for the community.

The Cheerful Givers 77 is a community charity dedicated to supporting individuals and families facing financial hardship across Greater Manchester. Our mission is simple: to ensure that nobody has to go without food, toiletries, or basic essentials during difficult times. We provide emergency food parcels, hygiene products, toiletries, clothing, bedding, school uniforms, and household essentials to people who are struggling due to low income, unemployment, illness, disability, family breakdown, rising living costs, or unexpected life events. We work closely with schools, community groups, and local organisations to identify and support those most in need. A large part of our work focuses on helping families with children. We believe no child should go hungry or miss out on opportunities because of financial hardship. Through our support, we help relieve some of the pressure families face and provide practical assistance when it is needed most. We also recognise that toiletries and hygiene products are often overlooked but are essential for health, dignity, and wellbeing. Many of the people we support struggle to afford items such as toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, sanitary products, soap, and toilet roll. By providing these items alongside food support, we help people maintain their confidence and independence. As demand for our services continues to grow, we are in urgent need of donations. We particularly need non-perishable food items, tinned goods, pasta, rice, cereal, long-life milk, tea, coffee, toiletries, cleaning products, sanitary products, and household essentials. Surplus food donations from local businesses would also make a significant difference to the families we support. We welcome volunteers who can assist with collections, sorting donations, fundraising, deliveries, and community outreach. Every donation, no matter how small, helps us provide vital support to people facing hardship. At The Cheerful Givers 77, we believe that kindness changes lives. Our goal is not only to meet immediate needs but also to offer hope, dignity, and reassurance to those going through difficult times. With community support, we can continue reaching vulnerable individuals and families and ensure that nobody feels alone when they need help the most. ❤️