Sainsbury's Sheffield High St Local

The project began in May 2015 and ran a series of successful pop-ups, feeding an average of 201 people per event and utilising 15 volunteers each time to assist in the planning and execution of the events. Fast forward to 2026 and Food Works now recovers over 300 tonnes of surplus food per year to help build a fair and sustainable food system in Sheffield. Through our two community cafes and 17 community partner hubs we are providing access to affordable, sustainable food across the city.

Food Rescue Group, Sheffield takes a practical, community-led approach to tackling food waste and promoting sustainable living across the city. In an era shaped by climate change, resource scarcity, and ecological imbalance, the Sheffield initiative is both timely and essential. A central focus of our work is addressing food waste, a major issue that results in the unnecessary loss of valuable resources and contributes significantly to methane emissions from landfill. Tackling this challenge is both an environmental necessity and a moral responsibility, as redistributing surplus food can provide vital support to local families and individuals. We work closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is used rather than wasted. These partnerships help businesses reduce disposal costs while delivering measurable environmental benefits for the wider community. Pickup and distribution in Sheffield are coordinated by Joseph Ukkan, who oversees volunteer scheduling, manages collections, and ensures rescued food is delivered promptly to where it is most needed. His leadership helps maintain efficiency, safety, and a strong community focus across all operations. The initiative is powered by dedicated local volunteers who collect and redistribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available. This rapid turnaround ensures freshness, removes the need for storage, and supports the highest standards of food safety and quality. Every item is carefully inspected, and any unsuitable food is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing volunteers with real-time updates on collection schedules, locations, and available quantities. This efficient communication system enables fast responses and ensures the smooth operation of rescue and redistribution efforts. By diverting large quantities of food from landfill, the Food Rescue Group, Sheffield significantly reduces methane emissions and resource waste. The initiative not only supports those in immediate need but is open to anyone who recognises the importance of valuing food and preventing waste. By engaging a broad cross-section of the community, the group fosters a shared commitment to sustainability and responsible consumption. As the group continues to refine its strategies and expand local engagement, it is making meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. Join us in Sheffield and help make a difference, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

St Paul's Church seeks to provide services to the community, including services of worship, weddings, baptisms and funerals, and it exists to help enhance the community. For example, it runs a community children's group, a community youth group, a JOY (Joining Old and Young) community group for older people and parents/toddlers, and a Foodbank. In all, it touches the lives of over 250 people per week. It is also a place used by other groups, like Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. It is one of the few key organisations in Parson Cross which runs community based activities and is widely connected to other organisations, such as the local schools and care homes. Parson Cross is a deprived area with many people unemployed or on low- income and in social housing. All of our community groups help people in our community.