People & Culture

We are a large volunteer based Charity operating across the Wiltshire area. Our volunteers use donated food to share with local families, individuals and organisations who are most in need. We are currently under pressure to meet the increasing need to help people who cannot afford food, whilst also experiencing a big decrease in the amount of food we receive due to less available food and many more people buying food from the reduced price sections. If you are a business with surplus food, would like to make a donation, volunteer or are in need of some food, please contact us.

Zero Carbon Guildford is a Charity based in Guildford set up in 2022. Originally run entirely by volunteers, we now employ some members of staff as the project has grown. We have set up a Community hub, offering a physical space for all local environmental and social groups and projects to come together to tackle the climate and ecological crisis, and the social issues which share the same root causes as climate breakdown. Zero has set up a Community Fridge at its premises in Guildford - the first Community Fridge in the town. Our primary focus is to stop food waste. Food is freely available to all members of the local community, no referral necessary, but we make sure that those in need are aware of the Fridge and work closely with other groups and refuges. Other projects run by Zero include Rosamund Community Garden, Library of Things, River Testing, Baby Clothes Library, Home Energy Surveys, The Sustainable Business Network, Terracycle, Urban Greening. We work closely with the University of Surrey and other environmental groups.

Monday Lunch Club is held in St. Nix Church, Abbotswood, Yate. We started mid September 2017 and was initially set up so people who attend the friendship and exercise club in the morning could stay on and have a warm, two course meal. The lunch club is open to all in the community and people can just drop in for the meal at 12 noon. The first time someone stays is free, and there is a nominal charge of £2.50 to cover the cost of a bowl of soup with a roll and butter, a dessert and a hot drink. At Christmas and Easter we have a celebration which is free, and all get a small gift and card to mark the occasion. The home made soups are delicious and nutritious, often using produce donated by Marks and Spencer, with any excess donated food put on tables for anyone to take - often a selection of bread, fruit and flowers. We sometimes have other organisations come in to promote the help available in the area. For example, we recently had South Gloucestershire Council come to promote the Stay warm and well' project, and Age UK who gave advise on home safety, arranging free boiler checks and giving out carbon monoxide alarms. Held each Monday except Bank Holidays, the lunch club is run by a small group of volunteers. For more information please phone St Nix office on 01454 324712 or email st.nicholas.abbotswood@hotmail.co.uk The Green Community Transport is also available for people in the Yate and Sodbury area. Phone 01454 228706