Sainsbury's Acklam Road Local

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.

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, pet food, brand new clothing and gifts 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://looprunresponse.online/

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.