Lidl Altrincham - Broadheath

The Food Rescue Group at Manchester mobilises an active and committed network of student volunteers and community partners from across the city. Led by students from local universities, the group turns climate concern into practical action by addressing food waste at a grassroots level. Food waste is a major driver of climate change. Valuable resources such as land, water, and energy are consumed to produce food, yet large quantities are discarded and sent to landfill, where they generate methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. By rescuing surplus food and redirecting it to people who need it, the group reduces environmental harm while supporting families and individuals across Manchester. The initiative works in partnership with local producers, retailers, and food businesses to ensure surplus food is used rather than wasted. These partnerships reduce disposal costs for businesses while delivering measurable environmental benefits. In Manchester, operations are powered by students from the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford, the University of Bolton, and the Royal Northern College of Music, alongside members of the Hindu community and other local groups. Together, they demonstrate how student-led action can create meaningful climate impact. Pickup and distribution in Manchester are coordinated by Haojun Shuai and Ramanujam Nagarajan, who manage volunteer schedules, oversee collections, and ensure rescued food is delivered promptly and safely. Their leadership supports efficient operations while keeping the group’s work firmly rooted in student engagement and community values. Food is collected and redistributed within 15 minutes of pickup, ensuring freshness and removing the need for storage facilities. All items are carefully inspected to meet food safety standards, and any unsuitable food is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection times, locations, and quantities. Through this work, the Food Rescue Group at Manchester diverts significant volumes of food from landfill, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves valuable resources, and strengthens community connections. As the group continues to grow, it remains committed to showing how student-led climate action can drive real change, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

Our Sale West is one of 150 areas around the country, awarded £1 million in 2015 by the National Lottery. We had 10 years to use the money to make a positive and lasting difference to the community and residents lives of the Sale West Estate. we are now a registered CIO (Charity Number 117262) We have a partnership board who continually consults with residents as to how the money should be spent. We have 4 main aims which cover numerous projects:- Environment and Community Spaces Employment and Training Health and Wellbeing Youth Our volunteers have been running a food share scheme for 3 years and pick up from various stores. It is free and open to all. This has helped feed residents who may be in poverty.

We are a community response hub for the residents of Partington, Carrington and Warburton, working to ensure that every single member of our community is cared for. Whether this involves accessing healthy food, collecting prescriptions, feeding their pets, or financial support with utilities we want to make sure that no one is missed. We work to provide such services as food deliveries and donations, signposting to additional services and providing well-being checks where needed. In addition, over the coming weeks we will be opening a community shop to further support our local community, providing essential items such as healthy food and household cleaning products, at low cost to local residents. This is where we hope your support can come in as we look to continue supporting our community through weekly food parcels to those families with the greatest financial need and as we begin to stock the community shop.