Sainsbury's Manchester Greengate Local

The Food Rescue Group at Manchester mobilises an active and committed network of student volunteers and community partners from across the city. Led by students from local universities, the group turns climate concern into practical action by addressing food waste at a grassroots level. Food waste is a major driver of climate change. Valuable resources such as land, water, and energy are consumed to produce food, yet large quantities are discarded and sent to landfill, where they generate methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. By rescuing surplus food and redirecting it to people who need it, the group reduces environmental harm while supporting families and individuals across Manchester. The initiative works in partnership with local producers, retailers, and food businesses to ensure surplus food is used rather than wasted. These partnerships reduce disposal costs for businesses while delivering measurable environmental benefits. In Manchester, operations are powered by students from the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Bolton, and the Royal Northern College of Music, alongside members of the Hindu community and other local groups. Together, they demonstrate how student-led action can create meaningful climate impact. Pickup and distribution in Manchester are coordinated by Haojun Shuai and Ramanujam Nagarajan, who manage volunteer schedules, oversee collections, and ensure rescued food is delivered promptly and safely. Their leadership supports efficient operations while keeping the group’s work firmly rooted in student engagement and community values. Food is collected and redistributed within 15 minutes of pickup, ensuring freshness and removing the need for storage facilities. All items are carefully inspected to meet food safety standards, and any unsuitable food is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and quantities. Through this work, the Food Rescue Group at Manchester diverts significant volumes of food from landfill, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves valuable resources, and strengthens community connections. As the group continues to grow, it remains committed to showing how student-led climate action can drive real change, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

We run a free hot meals service, community drop in, unlimited free hot drinks and a community food pantry three times a week every week of the year.

Today in the UK there are families struggling to put food on the table. For people on low income a sudden crisis - illness, benefit delay or an unexpected bill - can push their finances over the edge, meaning there is nothing left to pay for groceries. Cupboards are bare and people are going hungry in our neighbourhoods today. we can't sit by and let that happen. Redbridge Foodbank is here to help anyone who is facing hunger because of a crisis - for the parents skipping meals so their children can eat, for the tenant forced to go hungry just to pay the rent, for the elderly person making the stark choice between heating or eating. Redbridge Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network. We are part of a movement to help the many people affected by poverty and hunger in our society. We provide three days' emergency food and practical support to help people cope in a crisis, as well as give advice and signpost to other services in the are to help people recover, rebuild their lives and break the cycle of poverty. In 2021/22, The Trussell Trust’s Foodbank Network provided 2,173,158 three-day emergency food supplies and support to UK people in crisis. Of these, 832,109 went to children.