ALDI STOCKTON - PORTRACK LANE

We support homeless males to get their lives back on track by providing safe and secure accommodation. We do this by supporting the individual to register with a doctor dentist ensuring better health and wellbeing. We have 29 places over three buildings and help all ages our referrals come from all surrounding North East HMP Prisons, Probation services and Regional borough council homeless departments. A lot of our clients have very low incomes so rely on foodbanks and donations to get them through the week or month as Universal credit claims are paid monthly this can be a very long time to money manage. Who are we? We are a Community Interest Company (CIC) working in and around the Stockton-on-Tees area supporting males with a varying range of complex needs, including but not limited to: Mental Health Needs, Autism/Asperges, Learning Difficulties, Drug and Alcohol Substance Misuse Difficulties as well as being or at risk of being homeless. We currently have 3 sites: Portrack Lane Project, Westbourne Street Project, and Yarm Road Project. Our vision is simple; “Providing Opportunities, Hope and Fresh Starts to those in need” we work with males that are homeless or at risk of homelessness providing housing related support and social inclusion related support. We aim to provide our care and support in a person-centered holistic approach. We understand and are disheartened by the stigma associated with Mental Health and substance misuse difficulties. We try and raise awareness for our colleagues in partnering agencies with the view of reducing the stigma associated with such needs. Should your organization like some awareness regarding Mental Health and Substance misuse difficulties, please feel free to contact us on the details provided at the end of this newsletter. We offer support both in the projects and on an “outreach” basis working with males struggling with substance misuse difficulties and complex needs including mental health needs.

Streets ahead for information is a small, not-for-profit organisation, Established in 2006. We work in one of the most deprived communities in the UK. Based on the 'local high street' in the densely urbanised area of Gresham/Newport in Middlesbrough, the area is multi cultural with over 45 languages being spoken at one of the local primary school. the level of owner occupiers has drastically reduced over the past few years resulting in a large stock of low cost rented accommodation We help residents of the area navigate their way around the issues that life places in front of them. We offer a drop-in information service, English classes for people with English as a second language, a reporting centre for environmental/waste issues, ASB, hate crime and anything else that they face. we also offer a shop which redistributes unsold food stock. We provide activities to help people develop skills and to feel less isolated, this includes family tree sessions, friendship groups, up-cycling and recycling workshops. Our challenge is to run a community gala every year - this becomes more and more challenging as funding is not easy in our area as many of our residents do not have enough money to see themselves and their families thorough the week let alone supply funding for this event.

The Food Rescue Group in Middlesbrough takes a practical, community-led approach to tackling food waste and promoting sustainable living across the city. In the context of climate change, resource depletion, and growing environmental pressures, the importance of this work has never been clearer. A central focus of the group is addressing food waste, a major contributor to the unnecessary loss of resources and methane emissions from landfill. Tackling this issue is both environmentally essential and socially important, as surplus food can provide meaningful support to local families and individuals. The group works closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is put to good use rather than discarded. These partnerships help businesses reduce disposal costs while delivering clear environmental benefits. Pickup and distribution in Middlesbrough are coordinated by Sarah Russell and Adriana Dunose, who organise volunteer schedules, oversee collections, and ensure rescued food is delivered promptly, safely, and to where it is most needed. The initiative is driven by dedicated volunteers, including students from local universities and members of the wider community. Together, they collect and redistribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available, helping to preserve freshness and remove the need for long-term storage. All food collected is carefully inspected to ensure it meets strict safety standards. Any items that cannot be shared are disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Volunteer coordination takes place through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and quantities. By diverting significant volumes of food from landfill, the Food Rescue Group in Middlesbrough is reducing methane emissions, conserving valuable resources, and strengthening community connections. Through consistent, local action, the group is helping build a more sustainable and inclusive future — one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.