Lidl Canning Town

Urban Unity Food Bank is a grassroots initiative run by a passionate team of local volunteers at The Old Surgery Community Centre. We are committed to supporting individuals and families in need by providing free food, seven days a week. We serve a diverse range of people in our local community. Including families with children, people on low incomes, those with special needs, and vulnerable individuals such as pregnant women, disabled residents, chemotherapy patients, and the housebound. We also deliver to those experiencing homelessness, local night shelters, after-school clubs, and other community centres. This includes retired Veterans of military service shelter, women's salvation army shelter, men's shelter, and a local soup kitchen for the homeless. We also have previous service users of our foodbank volunteering with us and giving back to the community, such as previously homeless people. As demand continues to grow, we are now facing challenges in meeting the needs of everyone who comes to us. More people are turning to us for help than we currently have food available, but we are determined to continue serving and expanding our reach. Who We Support and How We welcome people from all backgrounds, with no need for referrals, vouchers, or paperwork. Our volunteers, many of whom live locally, work directly with the community. Identifying and supporting those who need help. We offer compassionate, informal support and respect each person’s privacy. Whether someone needs regular food support, has dietary restrictions, or simply needs someone to talk to, we’re here to help. At its core, our food bank is about more than food, it’s about dignity, kindness, and community. We aim to bring people together, offer hope, and put a smile on someone’s face during a difficult time. More Than a Food Bank While our main focus is on rescuing surplus food and redistributing it, we also provide a range of other services to support people more holistically: Listening & Support Service – A safe, friendly space where volunteers offer a listening ear and emotional support. Holistic / Whole-Person Support – We assist people with wider challenges such as debt, housing issues, domestic abuse, mental health concerns, and isolation, by offering guidance or signposting to other support services. Everything We Do Is Free All of our services from food parcels to emotional support are completely free. We believe everyone should have access to food and care without barriers. How We Source Food We currently collect surplus food from local businesses through our partnership with Neighbourly. In addition, our volunteers carry out extra one-off collections whenever possible such as canteens in Canary Wharf's corporate banks. We are always open to building new partnerships with local businesses, suppliers, and organisations who share our mission and want to help reduce food waste while supporting those in need.

Food Rescue Group, Uxbridge takes a practical, community-led approach to tackling food waste and promoting sustainable living across the town. As communities face growing challenges from climate change, dwindling resources, and ecological disruption, this initiative is both urgent and essential. A core focus of our work is addressing food waste, a major issue that leads to the unnecessary loss of valuable resources and contributes significantly to methane emissions from landfill. Tackling this challenge is both an environmental necessity and a moral responsibility, as redistributing surplus food can provide vital support to local families and individuals. We work closely with local producers and retailers to ensure surplus food is put to good use rather than wasted. These partnerships help businesses reduce disposal costs while delivering measurable environmental benefits for the wider community. The initiative is powered by dedicated local volunteers, including community members and university students, who collect and redistribute surplus food shortly after it becomes available. This rapid turnaround helps maintain freshness, removes the need for storage, and supports the highest standards of food safety and quality. Every item is carefully inspected, and any unsuitable food is disposed of responsibly to minimise environmental impact. Pickup and distribution in Uxbridge are coordinated by Richard Purpura and Norberto Natividad, who work closely with the volunteer network to ensure collections run smoothly and deliveries reach those who need them most. Their hands-on leadership keeps operations efficient, responsive, and firmly community-focused. Coordination is managed through a dedicated WhatsApp group, providing real-time updates on collection schedules, locations, and available quantities. This efficient communication enables quick responses and effective day-to-day operations. By launching this initiative in Uxbridge, the Food Rescue Group is diverting significant quantities of food from landfill, reducing methane emissions, conserving valuable resources, and strengthening community connections. As the group continues to refine its approach and expand local engagement, it is making meaningful progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. Join us in Uxbridge and help make a difference, one meal, one volunteer, and one community at a time.

Carpenters Café, started by some residents of Carpenters Estate and Trinity Chapel London. The project opened on 5th June 2007 initially as a feeding project targeting the homeless. However over the years, as a result of the current economic climate, we now support a wide variety of groups which include anyone needing a helping hand. We also receive and send referrals to other organizations to provide support. Carpenters Café main objectives are:- • To provide a dinning place that is warm, clean and friendly where people can come and sit, make friends and share a meal • To give free of charge, hot or cold drinks, sandwiches, fruit and vegetables and food packs subject to availability. • To share out household items, clothing, footwear, books, etc that have been donated to Carpenters Café for the benefit of the needy. • To offer support and encouragement with access to computer facilities for job search and basic IT training. • Volunteering services include distribution of advice and information leaflets on healthy eating and lifestyle, a foot pampering session on the last Tuesday of every month and art classes every other Tuesday. The service is delivered by a strong team of volunteers who are reliable and supportive of the charitable aims of the organisation and who share a desire to offer help and assistance to people. We are open to the public every Tuesday from 10am – 12pm. Carpenters Estate Community Hall 17 Doran Walk, (Off Carpenters Road) Stratford, London E15 2JL