Sainsbury's Middlesbrough

The Food Rescue Group in Middlesbrough takes a practical, community-led approach to tackling food waste and promoting sustainable living across the city. In the context of climate change, resource depletion, and growing environmental pressures, the importance of this work has never been clearer. A central focus of the group is addressing food waste, a major contributor to the unnecessary loss of resources and methane emissions from landfill. Tackling this issue is both environmentally essential and socially important, as surplus food can provide meaningful support to local families and individuals. The group works closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is put to good use rather than discarded. These partnerships help businesses reduce disposal costs while delivering clear environmental benefits. Pickup and distribution in Middlesbrough are coordinated by Sarah Russell and Adriana Dunose, who organise volunteer schedules, oversee collections, and ensure rescued food is delivered promptly, safely, and to where it is most needed. The initiative is driven by dedicated volunteers, including students from local universities and members of the wider community. Together, they collect and redistribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available, helping to preserve freshness and remove the need for long-term storage. All food collected is carefully inspected to ensure it meets strict safety standards. Any items that cannot be shared are disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Volunteer coordination takes place through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and quantities. By diverting significant volumes of food from landfill, the Food Rescue Group in Middlesbrough is reducing methane emissions, conserving valuable resources, and strengthening community connections. Through consistent, local action, the group is helping build a more sustainable and inclusive future — one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

FRESH START PROJECT CIC – Providing Hope, Safety and Fresh Starts Fresh Start Project CIC provides safe, secure accommodation and person-centred support for homeless men in Stockton-on-Tees, helping them rebuild their lives, regain stability and work towards a more independent future. We currently provide 15 supported accommodation spaces across our Portrack and Westbourne Projects. The men who come to us have many different stories. Some have been released from prison with nowhere suitable to live. Others have experienced relationship breakdowns, mental health challenges, drug or alcohol misuse, financial difficulties, or have found themselves sleeping on the streets. Our referrals come from prisons across the North East, Probation Services and local authority homelessness teams. More Than Somewhere to Sleep At Fresh Start Project CIC, we believe providing a roof is only the beginning. We work with each resident as an individual, helping them access healthcare, register with a GP and dentist, manage Universal Credit and benefits, access food banks and essential items, engage with mental health or drug and alcohol services, develop budgeting and independent-living skills, and build confidence, routine and stability. Our aim is to help each man take positive steps towards greater independence and a more secure future. People, Not Labels Homelessness can happen for many reasons. A relationship can break down. Someone can leave prison with nowhere to go. Mental health can deteriorate. Drug or alcohol misuse can take hold. Financial circumstances can change. Fresh Start Project CIC doesn't judge someone by where they've been. We work with them on where they want to go next. The men we support are not statistics. They are fathers, sons, brothers and members of our community who deserve dignity, support and another opportunity. What Support Do We Need? Many of our residents arrive at Fresh Start Project CIC with very little and live on extremely low incomes. Some rely on food banks and donations, particularly while waiting for Universal Credit or trying to make a monthly payment stretch. We are incredibly grateful for support with surplus food, toiletries, men's clothing, bedding, household essentials and other practical donations that can directly benefit our residents. We also welcome opportunities to work with local businesses, organisations and volunteers who share our commitment to helping people rebuild their lives. Something as simple as a meal, clean bedding or essential toiletries can make a genuine difference to someone starting again. These things don't just meet a practical need – they provide dignity, stability and show someone that their community cares. Our Mission Providing Opportunities, Hope and Fresh Starts to Those in Need. Behind each of our 15 spaces is a person and a story. Someone who deserves a safe place. Someone who deserves support. Someone who deserves another opportunity.

We are DOORWAYS MIDDLESBROUGH we are a non-profit registered charity run by a small group of dedicated volunteers and we run from our cafe/hub at 9-11 Princes road in Middlesbrough TS1 4BD ❤️We serve a hot, homemade & filling meals and desserts (including halal & vegetarian to be inclusive) ❤️We have a range of hot & cold beverages too. ❤️We make up food parcels for individuals or families. ❤️People have the choice whether they want to eat in or take out, whichever they feel most comfortable with. ❤️We have an open door policy so we do not turn anyone away. Anyone who comes to us in need eg homeless, near homeless, veterans, refugees, students, ex offenders, needy, vulnerable, benefits sanctioned, the elderly on low pensions, families on low income etc will be fed and looked after. We have people of all ages and all walks of lives who use our services and we open our arms out to anyone. ❤️We are a safe space with the relevant safeguarding training. Everyone who comes to us is treated with dignity & respect. We do not judge here. ❤️We work at a grassroots level and alongside lots of other organisations such as; Cleveland police, the council, the homeless team, hepatitis team, sexual health services, nurses, job centre, substance misuse workers, social workers, mental health workers. This is so we can refer our service users to the appropriate services so they can get the best possible help. ❤️We make up hygeine bags made up with items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body bath wipes, toothpaste and toothbrushes etc and hand out period products whenever asked. ❤️ We hand out clothes and shoes for adults and children (including school uniforms) ❤️ We give out blankets, pillows, sleeping bags and tents. ❤️ We are open 3 times a week 11am-2pm and 1 Sunday a month for a Sunday dinner. ❤️ We do one evening a week with Cleveland police for our local sex workers, vulnerable women and Trans women where we give them hot food, a safe space to talk and work with the police and sexual exploitation team and have services coming out doing sexual health tests and handing out condoms and other essentials. ❤️ We get over 75 people each time were open and with the current cost of living crisis we are getting more and more coming to us . ❤️Our premises has a walk in shower/wet room so our service users can get themselves cleaned up and get a fresh, clean set of clothes on. ❤️We have laundry facilities so people can get their clothes washed and dried. ❤️ EVERYTHING we provide is FREE for our service users. ❤️ We rely solely on generous donations and always need help with things such as - - More food & drinks - Takeaway boxes/cups - Utilities - Premises rent - Toiletries - Blankets - Pillows - Sleeping bags - Tents You're welcome to checkout our Facebook page for more info & pics: Doorways Middlesbrough Thank you for reading and thanks for any help. We appreciate everything xxx