BRE (Building Research Establishment)

Tonnes of fresh food are thrown away every day by supermarket across the UK. Children go to school hungry every morning, mothers skip meals to feed their family, elderly people and those with mental illness are under nourished. Gratitude collects fresh, nutritious food that cannot be sold by supermarkets. They make this into a scrumptious free lunch every Wednesday and redistribution surplus food to charities and shelters. We also collect non-food item and redistribution the surplus to charities, shelters and those who are in need in the community. We have now been serving for five years and have been helping feed an average of 250 people weekly.

Our charity was established in 2012 by a group of multi-cultural local people who wanted to do something about the significant increase in local crime, lack of opportunities, inability to access services, extreme poverty & hunger, isolation, fear and rise in racial hostility within their community, aiming to make a positive contribution to the cohesion & economy of the community, to help neighbourhoods feel safer & rekindle old-fashioned community spirit thereby: reducing the effects of deprivation and social exclusion reducing anti-social behaviour redistributing food & toiletries to those most in need ensuring greater numbers of people access local public & 3rd sector services All contributing to our vision: the improvement of dignity, physical & mental tool, quality of life, aspirations and understanding amongst all in our community. Happy to support the community, Glasgow City Council provided a long-term lease on an unused unit in the heart of Crookston which, together, we turned into the bright, welcoming ‘Crookston Community Centre’. In 10 years, our services within the Community Centre developed as needs were identified and now include: Foodshare Drop-in School Holidays Lunch Club Independence from Foodbanks Let’s Get Connected (IT classes) Adult & Children language classes Youth Games & Movie Club Thursdays Cook n Chat General Drop-in Service Volunteering, Training & Work Placements Multi-Culture Fun Days Local MP Chris Stevens surgery from our premises Our Foodshare platforms have reached beyond our immediate community to include ‘On Wheels’, ‘Emergency’ & ‘Pop-Ups’ Glasgow-wide & in Dunterlie, East Renfrewshire. CCG is a community anchor – known as the “Go To” place within the community, we are there to offer a helping hand, somewhere to go without judgement. To facilitate the growth & development of some of these services and to introduce another, we’ve leased a 2ndpremises (4 doors up) to convert into a working/training kitchen & café: ‘Crookston Community Kitchen’(full planning permission secured) with the intention of this becoming sustainable after 12 months by offering Catering Services within South West Glasgow.

Our Church mission is to transform lives and to have a favourable impression on those in need. We aim to relieve hunger and poverty in our local community by feeding people in crisis. promote social inclusion by supporting people who find themselves in a crisis situation where they are unable to feed themselves or their families.We also want to spread the love of Jesus Christ so that others can benefit. Our food bank and feeding programme currently happens every 3rd Saturday of each month with the aim to do so more often once or twice weekly as we receive more food surplus offers.