Sainsbury's Broad Street

Food Rescue Group, Reading addresses one of today’s most pressing environmental and social challenges: food waste. Perfectly edible food is often thrown away, wasting valuable resources and contributing to climate change through methane emissions from landfill. At the same time, many households face financial pressures that make access to affordable, healthy food increasingly difficult. By rescuing surplus food, the group tackles both issues at once, reducing waste while sharing good food across the community. In Reading, the group works closely with local supermarkets and retailers to collect food that would otherwise go unused. Importantly, volunteers pick up surplus food at times when charities are unable to collect, ensuring these opportunities are not lost. Volunteers use what they need within their own households and share the rest with friends, colleagues, neighbours, churches, and community centres, so that nothing is wasted. All food is distributed completely free of charge. The work is powered by a dedicated team of volunteers, including local residents, community group members, and students, who ensure food is collected and redistributed shortly after it becomes available. This rapid turnaround helps maintain freshness, supports food safety standards, and removes the need for long-term storage. Any food unsuitable for human consumption is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Pickup and coordination are led by Vasiliki Tsioligka, Kay K, Preeti Chadda, and Erma Dyall, who oversee collections, manage schedules, and ensure surplus food is distributed as soon as possible. Their leadership keeps the process organised, efficient, and firmly community-focused. Day-to-day operations are supported through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and available quantities. This system enables quick responses, effective coordination, and smooth distribution. The impact is immediate and tangible. Every kilogram of food rescued reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves resources, and provides meals that bring people together. Beyond the numbers, the initiative strengthens community connections, builds resilience, and encourages a shared commitment to sustainability. As the group continues to grow, its vision remains clear: small, consistent actions can lead to lasting change. In Reading, that change is already happening, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

The Kay&Kob Foundation is driven by a profound commitment to giving back to communities and transforming lives, particularly for those who find themselves on the margins of society. Our mission is centered around providing hope, support, and a path to a brighter future for individuals who are struggling, often facing homelessness, unemployment, or other challenging circumstances. Since our founding in 2019, we have focused on initiatives that bring people off the streets, offering them not just immediate relief, but long-term opportunities to rebuild their lives. Our Philosophy of Giving At the heart of the Kay&Kob Foundation is a simple yet powerful philosophy: giving is not just about charity; it’s about empowerment. We believe that everyone deserves a chance to live with dignity, and our work is dedicated to creating those chances. Through our programs, we aim to provide more than just temporary assistance—we seek to offer sustainable solutions that help individuals regain their footing and thrive. Taking People Off the Streets One of our primary areas of focus is supporting those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The streets can be a harsh and unforgiving environment, and many who end up there face a cycle of despair that is difficult to break. The Kay&Kob Foundation works tirelessly to intervene in this cycle, offering immediate relief in the form of shelter, food, and essential services. However, our approach goes beyond just meeting basic needs. We are committed to helping individuals transition from homelessness to stability. This involves providing access to safe housing, job training, and mental health support. We partner with local shelters, housing authorities, and other organizations to ensure that those we help are not just temporarily housed but are set on a path to permanent, stable living conditions. Empowering Through Employment and Skills Development A key aspect of our giving philosophy is empowerment through employment. We understand that stable employment is crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness. To this end, the Kay&Kob Foundation offers job training programs, skills development workshops, and employment placement services. Our programs are designed to meet people where they are, providing them with the skills they need to secure and maintain employment. Whether it’s vocational training, resume building, or interview preparation, we equip individuals with the tools they need to succeed in the job market. For those who have been out of work for a long time or who face additional barriers to employment, we offer specialized support to help them overcome these challenges. Support and Rehabilitation Beyond employment, we recognize that many individuals need comprehensive support to rebuild their lives. This includes access to mental health services, addiction recovery programs, and ongoing counseling.

Looprun is a response division and part of an independent social enterprise. This is more than food and is part of a supportive services platform to help people get sustained in their own individual way. With up to 94% success rate and seeing once those receiving free Looprun response bags to returning to stores as shoppers with baskets full. These are the impact stories created when all come together to do good for good. Service users are signposted to Looprun mostly from referrals including professionals in social and healthcare. Looprun provides free non perishables, perishable food, toiletries, and brand new clothing to people facing a temporary challenge. Whatever supermarkets, stores, and retailers can do is turned into a grateful donation to a neighbour in need. This is a response to real people in real-time. No food is banked providing a direct in and out service. We believe if the food is stored then a person in need is not getting any food, hence we provide an instant response and instant impact service. Looprun has access to professional volunteers who carry out a confidential support service to people in need. From homeless shelters, hostels, sheltered housing, care homes, soup kitchens and schools. This is a non voucher, free and confidential service. This means Looprun can reach more people in need with food donations. Anyone that receives a Looprun bag of essential food items is sustained thus creating a loop cycle. All are invited to become part of these sustainable stories in your local community. For further information and gallery access on the impact of Looprun please visit: Website: https://www.looprun-sciv.online/