Sainsbury's Oxford Summertown Local

Food is supplied to us free by supermarkets and wholesalers and we redistribute to charities at no cost. This helps reduce food waste in the local area – one of our main aims The food is then distributed free of charge to other local charities who provide food for their clients This ensures that the food gets to the right people, and helps us to achieve our second aim of reducing food poverty It also helps these charities to provide much needed additional support in other areas by reducing their food costs Most of our operations are carried out by volunteers, helping us to provide around £10 of food for every £1 donated We believe that this is the most effective mode of operation and would happily provide advice for other new start-up food hubs wishing to follow our lead

The Community-Wide Food and Goods Rescue Initiative was founded and is led by Saroj Saurya, alongside the support of a dedicated team of volunteers. Together, the initiative works to reduce waste, promote responsible consumption, and foster a culture of sharing that strengthens communities across Oxford and beyond. Tackling food waste lies at the heart of our mission. Producing food requires vast amounts of water, energy, and agricultural land, yet millions of tonnes of perfectly edible food are wasted each year. When food is sent to landfill, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By rescuing surplus food and redistributing it, we prevent harmful emissions while ensuring that good food nourishes people rather than being discarded. The initiative partners with local producers, retailers, and suppliers to collect surplus food and household goods that might otherwise go to waste. These items are made freely available to students and staff at local universities, as well as to members of the wider community. This inclusive approach ensures that a broad range of people benefit and fosters a strong sense of shared ownership across communities. Items unsuitable for consumption are disposed of responsibly, and, where possible, packaging is recycled or repurposed to minimise environmental impact. Thousands of items have been diverted from landfill, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced, and meaningful connections have formed between people from different backgrounds and neighbourhoods. By continuing to rescue food and goods, the initiative demonstrates that sustainability and solidarity go hand in hand. Every loaf of bread, every bag of vegetables, and every item given a second life represents a step towards a more resilient, caring, and environmentally responsible future.

Our Strategy: To empower those in our community who, due to social, financial, or medical inequities and exclusions, believe reducing our impact on the climate is beyond their reach. Our Aims: Reduce waste and facilitate a circular economy to make the most of resources available Increase collective knowledge (e.g. through skills sharing and education) Build a sustainable future for our community together Our Activities: Distributing food and other surplus via Cherwell Larder Marketplace Repurposing food surplus in our cafe, Climatarian Kitchen Growing food for the community in Harvest @ Home, Repurposing non-food at our Waste Innovation Station, Loaning equipment and supplies via Oxford Party Library Through our activities above we support the well being of our entire community: We foster social connections and reduce isolation whether it’s over a cup of tea and a chat, repurposing textiles to make quilts for those in need, or growing food together. We promote increased mental health and physical activity through older adults seated exercises, garden work, or moving around supplies for our distributions. We fill gaps in the current options available to community connectors and social prescribers and actively work with local units to provide bespoke opportunities, often for those most traditionally excluded. We capitalise on collective wisdom and an extensive network of local businesses to make the most of the resources available. We actively instruct the community to do this through demonstrations, guides, kits, and courses.