Sainsbury's Park End St Local

Food is supplied to us free by supermarkets and wholesalers and we redistribute to charities at no cost. This helps reduce food waste in the local area – one of our main aims The food is then distributed free of charge to other local charities who provide food for their clients This ensures that the food gets to the right people, and helps us to achieve our second aim of reducing food poverty It also helps these charities to provide much needed additional support in other areas by reducing their food costs Most of our operations are carried out by volunteers, helping us to provide around £10 of food for every £1 donated We believe that this is the most effective mode of operation and would happily provide advice for other new start-up food hubs wishing to follow our lead

The Food Rescue Group in Oxford brings together an enthusiastic network of students, university staff, and community members who are committed to greener living and responsible consumption. Rooted in local action, the group reflects Oxford’s growing commitment to environmental sustainability and community care. As communities face increasing challenges from climate change, resource depletion, and ecological imbalance, tackling food waste has become more urgent than ever. Food waste represents a significant environmental and social issue, leading to unnecessary loss of resources, increased landfill use, and the release of methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. Redirecting surplus food away from landfill not only reduces environmental harm but also ensures good food can support people across the city. The group works closely with local producers, retailers, and partners to ensure surplus food is used rather than discarded. These partnerships help businesses reduce waste and disposal costs while strengthening community resilience and delivering clear environmental benefits. Pickup and distribution in Oxford are coordinated by Saroj Saurya and Nafissa Sallah Baka, who manage volunteer scheduling, oversee collections, and ensure surplus food is shared promptly and safely within the community. Volunteers support these efforts by helping with collections and redistribution. All items are checked on collection, and anything unsuitable for consumption is disposed of responsibly. Surplus food and selected household goods are shared free of charge with students, university staff, and members of the wider Oxford community. This inclusive approach ensures a broad range of people benefit and fosters a strong sense of shared ownership and connection across neighbourhoods. Where possible, packaging is recycled or repurposed to minimise environmental impact. Through these efforts, thousands of items have been diverted from landfill, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced, and meaningful connections have been built between people from different backgrounds. By continuing to rescue food and goods locally, the Food Rescue Group in Oxford shows that sustainability and solidarity go hand in hand. Every rescued loaf, every bag of vegetables, and every item given a second life represents a step towards a more resilient, caring, and environmentally responsible future for the city.

Food for Charities runs the Botley community pantry, Botley community larder, and Botley Bikers (bicycle deliveries of food etc. to homeless people). It also delivers emergency food parcels. The pantry and larder operate from 81 West Way OX2 9JY. The Bikers leave from west Oxford; do most of their deliveries at Bonn Square; and end up at the Gatehouse. Most of our clients are on benefits and/or self-defined as "in need". There is no charge for the pantry, Bikers or emergency parcels. The community larder runs on the SOFEA model: £14/month provides 14+ items of food per week. The food we collect from Neighbourly stores goes to all of the projects. We first take food for the Bikers (fruit, bread and some vegetables) and the rest goes to the other projects, where people use it directly (e.g. bread) or cook with it (e.g. most vegetables).