GAIL's Bakery Barnes

We are a volunteer run group focused on reducing food waste and supporting local families in need. Our mission is simple: to make sure no one in our community goes hungry while tackling the growing problem of food surplus. Thanks to our partnerships with Neighbourly, Fareshare and Caboodle, we have benefited from strong relationships with local supermarkets and food providers—including M&S, Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Nando's, KFC, Co-op, Lidl, Aldi, Pret a Manger, and Gail’s Bakery—we rescue surplus food and redistribute it to those who need it most via personal contacts and our Partner Organisations. This gives us the ability to provide varied, nutritious food parcels at no cost to families and individuals facing food insecurity. In addition to fresh food collections, we also stock a community cupboard with ambient and non-perishable items, enabling members of our community to access support anonymously and with dignity. Our recipients are identified through word of mouth and referrals from local schools and community organisations. Each week, we supply the equivalent of 2250 meals to local families and indiviuals as well as primary schools and community groups - ensuring that anyone who needs food can access it easily. Together, we are building a stronger, more sustainable community where food is shared, not wasted.

We are a dedicated charity providing essential aid to those in need. We provide vital aid to individuals and families in need of financial, material and emotional support. Together, we can make a difference to those suffering in our communities and internationally. You can help support us by either donating or volunteering your time to truly change the lives of those in need and give them the support they deserve. Swan was founded in 2010 in South London a registered charity and its Board is formed of women from the community. SWAN has over 90 volunteers who support its local projects and initiatives. SWAN prides itself on providing food aid to those in need. The SWAN Hub based in Croydon provides food, clothes and essentials items, a weekly Foodbank and Soup Kitchen and community initiatives such as SWAN 500; which is a community initiative to get more people to contribute to helping the wider society. SWAN also run projects to support refugees abroad. Including a weekly bread project which provides bread to refugees multiple times a week, and a yearly Ramadan project feeding hundreds of people per day for 30 days during the month of Ramadan.

Based at the University of Roehampton, we are an initiative which aims to tackle both food waste and food poverty on campus, raise awareness of issues of food sustainability, remove the stigma of food poverty and are a part of a University-wide attempt to address the current cost of living crisis.