Sainsbury's Saltersgill Local

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.

Young@heart CIC aims to create community projects with residents of Middlesbrough 60+ The object is to create social inclusion, help with mental health and general wellbeing, through intergenerational activities. Young@heart recognises that residents of ages 60 and above will benefit keeping their minds active to prevent illness (studies have shown that keeping the mind active helps reduce the onset of Alzheimer). Using young people as our volunteer base we will provide meaningful cross age relationships, increasing a sense of belonging, self-esteem, and wellbeing. It will also benefit young people enhancing their social and life skills. Physical and mental wellbeing will be improved by increased activity and decreased social isolation which will help build stronger communities. We are setting up a community fridge in a deprived area of Middlesbrough we are going to cook recipes with the surplus and serve to the community. We will be giving the community tips and advice to set up a growing plot to maintain and harvest. This will bring the community together, learn new skills promoting a healthy lifestyle. What premises does your project operate from? Our head office warm hub is at 2 Park Road South, Middlesbrough TS5 6HB. . How do you identify service users and their needs? We have a drop in community café Tuesdays & Saturdays 11am - 2pm and we also promote throughout our established networks. Are there any other services provided by your organisation other than food support? We also have friendship groups, regular group activities in our warm hub. Is there a charge for the service(s) provided by your organisation? Our community bistro hot food & drinks is a pay as you wish service. Has there been local press or similar that demonstrates your organisation's work in the local community? yes https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/latest-news/battling-isolation-with-delicious-food-and-a-warm-welcome/

We are DOORWAYS MIDDLESBROUGH we are a non-profit registered charity run by a small group of dedicated volunteers and we run from our cafe/hub at 9-11 Princes road in Middlesbrough TS1 4BD ❤️We serve a hot, homemade & filling meals and desserts (including halal & vegetarian to be inclusive) ❤️We have a range of hot & cold beverages too. ❤️We make up food parcels for individuals or families. ❤️People have the choice whether they want to eat in or take out, whichever they feel most comfortable with. ❤️We have an open door policy so we do not turn anyone away. Anyone who comes to us in need eg homeless, near homeless, veterans, refugees, students, ex offenders, needy, vulnerable, benefits sanctioned, the elderly on low pensions, families on low income etc will be fed and looked after. We have people of all ages and all walks of lives who use our services and we open our arms out to anyone. ❤️We are a safe space with the relevant safeguarding training. Everyone who comes to us is treated with dignity & respect. We do not judge here. ❤️We work at a grassroots level and alongside lots of other organisations such as; Cleveland police, the council, the homeless team, hepatitis team, sexual health services, nurses, job centre, substance misuse workers, social workers, mental health workers. This is so we can refer our service users to the appropriate services so they can get the best possible help. ❤️We make up hygeine bags made up with items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body bath wipes, toothpaste and toothbrushes etc and hand out period products whenever asked. ❤️ We hand out clothes and shoes for adults and children (including school uniforms) ❤️ We give out blankets, pillows, sleeping bags and tents. ❤️ We are open 3 times a week 11am-2pm and 1 Sunday a month for a Sunday dinner. ❤️ We do one evening a week with Cleveland police for our local sex workers, vulnerable women and Trans women where we give them hot food, a safe space to talk and work with the police and sexual exploitation team and have services coming out doing sexual health tests and handing out condoms and other essentials. ❤️ We get over 75 people each time were open and with the current cost of living crisis we are getting more and more coming to us . ❤️Our premises has a walk in shower/wet room so our service users can get themselves cleaned up and get a fresh, clean set of clothes on. ❤️We have laundry facilities so people can get their clothes washed and dried. ❤️ EVERYTHING we provide is FREE for our service users. ❤️ We rely solely on generous donations and always need help with things such as - - More food & drinks - Takeaway boxes/cups - Utilities - Premises rent - Toiletries - Blankets - Pillows - Sleeping bags - Tents You're welcome to checkout our Facebook page for more info & pics: Doorways Middlesbrough Thank you for reading and thanks for any help. We appreciate everything xxx