Food charity links with stores to ensure people don’t go without
People in South Manchester are receiving discounted supplies from Tesco stores thanks to the tireless work of the Southway Housing Trust Quids In Food Club.
The charity uses the food contributions to provide weekly discounted food shopping to people who visit one of its five clubs located across Burnage, Chorlton, Didsbury and Withington, ensuring that families don’t go without.
The Quids in Food Club receives food as part of the Community Food Connection surplus food scheme, which involves local Tesco stores and food surplus redistribution charity FareShare.
The Community Food Connection scheme ensures that surplus food from Tesco is given to charities and community groups, whose volunteer members then distribute it to the public. Across the UK it redistributes 2 million meals each month.
Debbie Leonard, Coordinator at Southway Housing Trust, said: “Here at Quids In, we offer our members a wide variety of food items valued at around £20 for just £4 to £8 weekly. Unlike traditional food banks, we operate as an ongoing membership club, providing fresh and chilled items that can be difficult to find and expensive to buy locally.
“Our mission is to make nutritious food accessible and affordable for everyone. Anyone living in our postcode areas is warmly invited to apply to join if they are struggling to make ends meet. By joining, members not only benefit from substantial savings but also become part of a supportive community dedicated to improving food security.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the generous contributions we have received through the Community Food Connection scheme, which helps us continue to support families in need. Our deepest thanks go to Tesco and FareShare for their kind gesture, which is greatly appreciated by us and our members.
“We are also very grateful to all our volunteers who help us give the best service we can to our members and spend time with them understanding their needs so we can signpost them to other appropriate services.”
The postcode areas which Quids In Food Club covers are M19, M20, M21 and M14 6.
Southway Housing Trust are currently piloting an additional evening food club scheme for working families who cannot attend during the day due to work.
Claire De Silva, Tesco Head of Community, said: “Working with community groups such as the Southway Housing Trust Quids In Food Club to help them get the food they need is such an important service for us to be able to provide. The dedication they have to their community is amazing, and we are pleased to do what we can to support.
“We firmly believe no good food should go to waste, which is why we began our Community Food Connection scheme. It enables us to ensure our surplus food is put to good use in communities.”
FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste. Two-thirds of the organisations it provides food to support children and families.
Katie Sadler, Head of FareShare Go, said: “The food that Tesco redistributes through FareShare makes a huge difference to people facing food insecurity across the UK.
“We work with thousands of charities and community groups providing essential support to their communities, and receiving a steady stream of food helps them to feed the people who need it most.”
Charities and community groups that could benefit from the support of the Community Food Connection scheme can find further information at https://fareshare.org.uk/getting-food/