Sainsbury's Edinburgh Marchmont Road Local

The Food Rescue Group, Edinburgh was established by Ankita Gupta, a student at the University of Edinburgh, to address the growing challenges of food waste, climate change, and local food insecurity. In an era defined by environmental strain, resource scarcity, and ecological imbalance, this initiative is both timely and essential. A core focus of our work is tackling food waste, a significant issue that results in the loss of valuable resources and contributes substantially to methane emissions from landfill. Addressing this problem is both an environmental necessity and a moral responsibility, as redistributing surplus food can provide meaningful support to local families and individuals in need. We work closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is rescued rather than discarded. These partnerships allow businesses to reduce disposal costs while delivering measurable environmental and social benefits to the community. Local food collection and distribution across Edinburgh is led by Suyash and Mariana, with vital support from Ankita and Alba , who oversees volunteer scheduling, manages collections, and ensures timely delivery to recipient locations. Their leadership helps maintain efficiency, safety, and a strong community-centred approach in all our operations. Our mission is powered by dedicated local volunteers who collect and distribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available. This rapid turnaround ensures freshness, removes the need for storage, and upholds the highest standards of food safety and quality. Every item is carefully inspected, and any food deemed unsuitable is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Volunteer coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and available quantities. This streamlined communication system enables fast response times and ensures the smooth running of our rescue and redistribution efforts. Through this initiative, we are significantly reducing methane emissions and resource waste by diverting large volumes of food from landfill. Our work benefits those in immediate need while remaining open to anyone who values food, sustainability, and responsible consumption. By engaging a broad cross-section of the community, we foster shared ownership of the solution to food waste. As we continue to refine our approach, we are making meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. Join us in Edinburgh and help make a difference, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

The Pavilion community hub was set up as a Community interest company in 2021. This was in response to an external threat of closure of the pre existing café which had been in operation for 15 years. The café has always been at the heart of the community. It has provided many platforms for individuals and groups to share the space free of charge for such things as events, socials, workshops etc. So, to maintain this wonderful resource, and to expand on the good things that could be possible for our community, the hub was fledged. The main focus of our hub is to provide a space that is beneficial for our local and wider community. So far this has taken on many aspects. We currently have space for local school sports equipment, pop up incubation units for start up small entrepreneurs, storage facilities for local artists and a Pet Food Share. The Hub recognises there is a need for an accessible food share depot. We see food share as a way to help people who may be on a low income and people who may want to support a zero waste ethos. With a food share depot we can provide this, and then hopefully expand into offering additional elements. From food share we could organise inclusive dining, a meal to be prepared by volunteers from the food share products, and served at the hub to be enjoyed by all. This activity brings people together and strengthen the bonds and networks within the community. In the future we would like to set up some workshops on pickling, preserving and fermentation. Simple recipes to be taught, shared and enjoyed. Enabling people to reduce their own waste, and how to use up a glut of fresh fruit and vegetables. The depot would also have an information board about food waste and its effect on our environment, and how best to limit this problem at an individual level, encouraging people to be more aware of the problems that occur on a global level from such indiscriminate waste, but also saving the individual money.

Cyrenians is an Edinburgh-based homelessness charity which was established in 1968 in order to find and implement innovative solutions to ending homelessness locally. We focus on prevention and reaching those at the edge of homelessness, as well as those in crisis and in recovery. Beyond providing direct support to those experiencing street homelessness, we work to prevent homelessness in the first place by alleviating poverty, tackling food insecurity and providing support to families and young people. The projects and services run by Cyrenians include: supported accommodation; outreach support; family mediation; food redistribution; and employability support. Last year our services supported over 10,800 people and more than 24,000 people visited our services and participated in training and events.