M&S Stane Park Colchester

We now have our premises as Tiptree Community Hub and as part of the hub services, we provide a community fridge and larder and a pre-loved school uniform service. We have developed relationships with many local supplier's in the village and we have 5 supermarket chains as well as a local Egg farm, Butcher's and Bakers that support our community fridge. We are also fortunate to the support of Wilkin and Sons in the village who make world famous jams and preserves as well as Perrywoods, the renowned garden centre, as well as the support from the neighbourly food suppliers. . We have many enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about helping promote the prevention of food waste as well as wanting to help those in need. We are gravely concerned about the rising prices for food, energy and fuel which is making many families, elderly and individuals have to choose between eating and fueling their homes and vehicles. We want to bolster the work of our amazing food bank in the village which is stretched to its limits and provide fresh food and advice on recipes to utilse food to its potential. We would welcome all support to access as many supplier's as possible. This includes donations from residents such as vegetables from gardens or excess food for example when they go away on holiday. Tiptree a hub is developing its services and will be a warm safe space, as well as providing a community cafe to help reduce social isolation. Being part of the community hub and fridge is not means tested and is available to all residents. It will not take away from the amazing work of our local food bank, it will add to it by providing fresh food and vegetables.

We have been allowed to use a small building in the centre of the town by a local businessman to house the fridge. The local East of England co-op has funded half the cost of our fridge. A local sign company has made us a banner free of charge. We have all the local supermarkets and cafes on board and we launched on 13 August 2018 Any uneaten or inedible food that we have is taken to a pig farmer who is grateful for the extra food for his pigs.. We are inspected for Hygiene by Braintree District council, and recently satisfactorily completed their Hygiene questionnaire. In January we welcomed a group of year 6 pupils from the local Holy Trinity school to the fridge, in order for them to learn about the fridge and its aim of preventing food waste. This was reported in the local paper. Last spring I gave a talk on the fridge and its work to the local Rotary club and this was much appreciated and resulted in a donation. We are now part of a body of local charities and voluntary organisations in the town who are working more closely together. These include the Rotary, the Mensshed, choirs, dementia friendly organisations, and many others. There is a get together for all these groups on 7/4/25 at the Annual Town meeting, where local residents can discuss what the town needs.

To relieve the condition of disadvantaged persons in mid-essex experiencing difficulties with homelessness, joblessness, substance misuse, physical and mental health problems, learning difficulties by the provision of support services to assist them in maintaining normal relationships with and within their community.