Sainsbury's Cheltenham Bath Road Local

Our sharing shed has been created to spread some positivity. We want the space to get our community talking, sharing and reducing waste. The Sharing Shed will be stocked with food, toiletries and sensory resources that would have otherwise been surplus to requirements. These are ALL FREE. A place where people and businesses can donate to but most important of all - The Bettridge school community, inclusive of staff and external professionals accessing the site can pick up whatever they may need, when they need it. A shed filled with amazing goods, community signposting and a sharing of knowledge that will better connect our families to the community and vise versa.

We provide a warm, safe space, whilst aiming to alleviate poverty, hardships, and social and emotional distress, where everyone is treated with respect. We welcome vulnerable adult guests from all backgrounds and situations – no referrals needed and no questions asked. Each day our main activities include providing around 80 guests with essentials such as: breakfast, a 2-course hot lunch, showering facilities, an opportunity to launder and dry clothes, new clothing and social interaction. We also offer access to: housing charities and services such as P3, addiction assistance including ‘Change Grow Live’, Citizens Advice sessions, WI-FI, laptops and phone charging. In addition to all of this, we offer a range of planned activities, some of which include: bingo, arts and crafts, puzzles, board games, quizzes, cinema trips, walks and reading. We also provide food parcels to those living on the streets, aligned to dietary requirements and convenience of recipient.

As School budgets are extremely tight and with rising living costs impacting our families, we are hoping to regularly collaborate with local retailers. As a primary School, receiving food donations will minimise the financial support we would need to ask from our local community. The food will be used to develop pupil knowledge of healthy eating and their ability to cook and prepare food. Pupils will be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life. Any products received, that can not be used for our Design and Technology classes will be use to offer our pupils an alternative menu at our After School Club. We have recently increased our team to enable us to provide more spaces for wrap around care, giving parents more flexibility to support their families after school hours. Your support would be extremely encouraging