ALDI HOUGHTON LE SPRING

We are a group of friendly volunteers in Great Lumley that provide food hampers to local residents to get them through a few days if they are struggling to make ends meet, isolating or in need of help. We also have a Community Table and Community Fridge where local people can pop in and take donations from local shops and businesses that would otherwise go to landfill. Everything we do is free of charge or on a pay-as-you-feel basis. Any donations we do receive are used to buy stock items for our hampers. We run out of Great Lumley Methodist Church alongside Heaven's Kitchen which provides a lunch project where we provide home-cooked, three course lunches each Tuesday - also on a pay-as-you-feel basis. During the recent lockdown we provided over 9000 meals to the elderly and vulnerable in the community. We are always happy to receive donations of any kind and will ensure that it is distributed to help our community.

Based in Houghton le springs, we are temporarily working ftom 15 St Michaels We are a community based organisation dedicated to helping vulnerable persons in the community such as asylum seekers, residents of the YMCA and working with the YMCA by collecting surplus and food donations from location shops such as Lidl and others. We d nit charge anyone for our services as all our funding and expenses comes ftom pocket. We organise fun days and team bonding and building activities too. Being aware of the challenges of societal lives, we hope to bring a little relief and succour to our community. We have gotten any press coverages just yet. As we are growing our brand and services hence we require an operational vehicle and office space to operate from. We are building some synergy and working relationships with other local groups but that is at the teething phase.

Our organisation is a community‑focused initiative dedicated to improving lives, strengthening neighbourhoods, and expanding opportunities for people across Sunderland and the wider North‑East. We work across multiple social‑impact areas, including poverty alleviation, health and wellbeing, children and youth development, employability and skills, domestic abuse support, sports and recreation, digital skills, equality, diversity and inclusion, education and training, family support, community cohesion, and arts, culture and heritage. We support individuals and families experiencing hardship, food insecurity, unemployment, social isolation, domestic abuse, digital exclusion, and limited access to safe recreational or educational spaces. Our programmes include surplus‑food redistribution, wellbeing activities, youth mentoring, sports sessions, digital‑skills workshops, employability coaching, family‑support interventions, cultural activities, and inclusive community events. We work closely with schools, local authorities, partner charities, volunteers, and grassroots groups to ensure that support is accessible, dignified, and responsive to real community needs. Our organisation urgently needs surplus food donations, including fresh produce, non‑perishables, bakery items, dairy, and culturally appropriate foods. We also rely on volunteers to assist with food distribution, youth activities, digital‑skills support, sports coaching, community events, and administrative tasks. Partnerships with local businesses, funders, and service providers help us expand our reach and sustain vital programmes. Our mission is to build a healthier, safer, more inclusive community where every person—regardless of background or circumstance has the opportunity to thrive. Through practical support, education, creativity, and connection, we aim to reduce hardship, empower families, uplift young people, and strengthen community cohesion.