ALDI MILTON KEYNES KINGSTON

MK Community Fridge began as two fridges and one freezer located in the foyer of The Old Bath House Community Centre, Stratford Road, Wolverton. The project was launched on Saturday 1 July 2017 and to date it has shared more than 500 tons of food with the people of Milton Keynes The network of community fridges in Milton Keynes is growing and they can be found in Coffee Hall, Netherfield, Great Linford, Conniburrow Wolverton and Westcroft - www.mkcommunityfridge.org The community fridge project has inspired a pop-up cafe, surplus supper events and craft sharing sessions all which encourage communities to bond and share resources that might otherwise be wasted. In February 2021 we piloted a new project with Hubbub Foundation UK that uses electric vehicles and paid riders to collect food on behalf of community fridges in Milton Keynes. Our hope is that this increases the amount of food that we can stop from being wasted and further lower our impact on the environment. It will also help our community fridges to support their projects, volunteers and lower costs for their venues - www.foodconnect.io ‘Yes, the fridge has impacted our household. It's a great lesson for the kids in sharing and not wasting and has enforced the already well established community feel in Wolverton’ – Fridge user ‘My husband was signed off work and we couldn't afford much food we have a 1 year old so fresh food is very important to us and we were able to feed ourselves thanks to the community fridge. It definitely shows people care and gives a lovely sense of community.’ – Fridge user 'I’m so pleased that the pumpkins have been of use. I get fun growing them, and its better still when the vegetables end up being eaten and enjoyed.' – Tim, Local Farmer

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, and brand new clothing 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://www.looprun-sciv.online/

Age UK Milton Keynes is a local independent charity working with and for older people in the borough of Milton Keynes to make a real and positive difference that contributes to their wellbeing and quality of life.