Esther Community Enterprise
Croydon, UK
ln August 2007, ECE recieved a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of 300,000 members of the IYF (International Youth Fellowship) for our contribution to the UK branch. In September 2008, Esther Community Enterprise was awarded certificates from the Lord Mayor of Croydon, for having carried out 100 hours of volunteering activities. On the 2 June 2011, ECE was awarded with theQueens Award for Voluntary Service, MBE. This is the highest award given to voluntary groups in the United Kingdom, and as such, is equivalent in status to the MBE. This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.
We aim to meet those who have needs in the local community by redistribution of food and other consumables donated from retailers. ECE makes a worthwhile collective response to the 3 tenets of sustainable development, namely social, economical and environmental needs.
ECE forms a consortium with other charities, faith groups, projects and organisations. We have over 70 Project Co-ordinators. They manage and help to distribute the food/groceries and clothing items within the local communities across the UK, on behalf of ECE. We have sustained our social enterprise through the goodwill and hard work of over 400 drivers and countless volunteers, who contribute their time, transportation and finance to this worthy cause. Near sell by date food is collected on a daily basis from a range of supermarkets and other retailers and diverted to those that need it most
ECE feeds in excess of 40,000 people per week and this is steadily on the increase as we expand across the UK
What we've received
Meals1,177,708
Non-food (tonnes)13.63
Volunteering (hrs)Volunteering (hours)6
Money£400
Ruth Winston Community Centre
London, UK
The Ruth Winston Community Centre was established in 1961. Originally founded as the first centre in the country dedicated to those over 50, we have since expanded our services to welcome adults of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities from the London Borough of Enfield, as well as parts of Haringey and Barnet.
The Centre is a welcoming and inclusive space where members of the community can come together to combat loneliness, make new friends, stay fit and healthy and enjoy quality time with others.
As part of our commitment to the community, we offer a free drop-in service for all members, where they can enjoy complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits. We are also fortunate to receive surplus food, which we distribute for free to our members to help reduce waste.
The Centre also hosts a variety of classes in fitness, dance, languages, art, bridge, and technology (including computer and smartphone use). We organize social events such as quiz nights, a film club, and coffee mornings. Furthermore, we offer hairdressing and chiropody services at reduced rates.
The Centre is entirely self-funded and operates with a small team of just three paid staff (two of whom are part-time), supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who help keep our services running.
What we've received
Meals35,883
Non-food (tonnes)0.18
Money£400
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/
What we've received
Meals1,041,115
Non-food (tonnes)9.49
Money£750