Sainsbury's Clarendon Park Local

The Food Rescue Group, Leicester is a community-led initiative driven by local volunteers who care deeply about reducing food waste and supporting one another. Rooted in the belief that good food should never go to waste, the group brings people together to make a positive difference across Leicester. Food waste affects both the environment and our communities. Perfectly edible food is often discarded, contributing to landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions, while many households face challenges accessing fresh, healthy meals. By rescuing surplus food, the group helps reduce environmental harm and ensures food is shared where it is most valued. Working closely with local retailers, food businesses, and community partners, the group collects surplus food before it is thrown away and redistributes it locally. This collaborative approach benefits everyone involved, strengthening relationships, reducing waste, and supporting people across neighbourhoods. The pickup and distribution are coordinated by Eman Abdalla, who manages volunteer scheduling, oversees collections, and ensures that rescued food is delivered promptly, safely, and to where it is needed most. This coordination helps maintain efficiency, reliability, and a strong community focus across all activities. Volunteers remain at the heart of everything we do. Collections and redistribution are carried out with care, respect, and close attention to food safety, ensuring all shared food meets appropriate standards. Clear communication and teamwork allow the group to respond quickly and efficiently, keeping food fresh and operations community-centred. The impact in Leicester goes beyond food alone. Each collection helps build connections, encourages shared responsibility, and fosters a sense of belonging. By valuing food and supporting one another, the Food Rescue Group, Leicester is helping create a stronger, more caring, and more sustainable community.

SOCOPA is rooted in the community it serves. Our offices are in St Matthew’s in Leicester and many of our programmes serve the community there as well as attracting people from across the city. SOCOPA exists to meet the needs of Somalis, East Africans, and anyone building a home in Leicester. Our community faces many challenges, such as inequality, poverty, language barriers and isolation. SOCOPA works for the betterment of the community through a range of services including English classes, youth clubs, skills training and culture nights.

We work to relieve financial hardship amongst people in south and central Leicestershire by providing emergency food, essential toiletries and household items to those in need and/or for distribution by charities or other organisations working to prevent or relieve poverty. We also provide signposting and onward support to relevant information and other advisory services.