Category: Serving our Communities

The Hive Cornwall

The project called ‘The Hive’ is involved in processing surplus food, which has been received from our local farmers, retailers and national distributers. During 2019 the food was processed using the military kitchen within RNAS CULDROSE (Royal Navy Air Station near Helston, Cornwall); it was converted into healthy nutritious meals, blast chilled, vacuum packed and distributed to those aforementioned charities.

The unique public benefit and value-add of our novel process is in extending the useful life of waste food (10 million tonnes per year in UK) and diverting waste food from landfill, so at the same time reducing the contribution of that waste food to greenhouse gas and feeding those suffering food poverty. We envisage a ‘centre of excellence’ hub initially in Cornwall providing employment opportuinities with satellite functions of R&D, training and community engagement. The hub will produce approximately 5 tonnes of processed food in Year 1 of the project increasing to 30-40 tonnes per month requiring 36 new jobs within 3 years.

We have already proven the process: since January of this year (2019), we have collected circa. 8 tonnes of surplus food, which has been processed into 16,000 free meals. We have prepared and redistributed this food in vacuum sealed packs which, have a shelf-life of 14 days at ambient temperature, or a year if frozen. Ordinarily this surplus food that was still fit for human consumption, would gone into either to Anaerobic digestion, biomass incineration and or landfill.

When looking at the scale of surplus food within the UK (circa 10 million tonnes, from farm to fork), the core team believes that we have developed a strategic solution, to what is an industrial problem, which has really only been treated, as a cottage industry. We have developed a process, which was inspired by military ration packs. This developed process has the very real possibility of becoming a completely new business sector; which given the right amount of focus could make a huge difference to our environment, and in doing so, feed those 1 in 4 children in Cornwall suffering from food insecurity.

Currently we are in communication with Cornwall Council, with respect to developing this project further; as the amount of food which is available to process, is more than the operational capacity of the galley kitchen within RNAS CULDROSE.

Using a veggie to protein ratio of 80:20, we have developed and taste tested, a 14 day menu cycle. This developed process, locks in the nutrition of the food, which is sealed into vacuum packs; the value added being, that very little food preparation is required by those consuming the food. Effectively we have developed a boil in the bag meal, which is contained in a 2kg durable pack, that is easily stacked and transported.

The supply of waste food from supermarkets, wholesalers and farming (to name but a few sources) is assured and demand by the needy is equally high. We aim to distribute processed food (cooked, vacuum packed and frozen) through a network of partner charities and food banks employing electric vehicles.
Reaching far beyond existing simple re- distribution of waste food to those suffering food poverty, our project:
• Will make a major contribution to the ‘climate emergency’. The Hive model will be showcased and exported throughout UK and the world
• Will make a major contribution to food poverty in UK and across the world
• While retaining the nutritional value, will have increased the life (‘use by’ date) of surplus food from a few weeks to as much as 25 years. This extension of food shelf life will have a massive impact on the carbon footprint of food distribution.
• Requires only basic understanding of cooking and a simple heat source in order to benefit from the variety of meals supplied.
• Is exploring imaginative ideas on packaging to suite the longevity of storage required.
URL
https://www.facebook.com/thehivecornwall
Social media – check all that apply
Facebook, Twitter
Contact Name
Tony Hogg
Phone/Mobile
+441326565021
Email
thehivecornwall@gmail.com
Who may use the service?
All those who may benefit from the service

Falmouth: The Gershie Project

The Gershie Project is named after one of the founders of The Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum, a lady who lived to help others. The namesake project also aims to help people
who are lonely, people who are socially excluded, people who are rurally isolated and people whose lack of interaction with others is negatively impacting upon their lives.

The Gershie Project aims to provide a safe, welcoming space where all such people can come together, chat and interact. The Gershie project is staffed by volunteers who provide a welcome, support and signposting for agency services. The project welcomes support with help towards the costs of providing a safe and welcoming place.

Address
c/o King Charles Hall, New Street, Falmouth, TR11 3HX
Opening hours
varies (suspended during lockdown – check Facebook for updates)
Disabled access
yes
URL
https://www.facebook.com/pg/GershieFalmouth/
Social media
Facebook
Who may use the service?
All those who may benefit from the service

Cafe Abundance – Real Junk Food Project Torpoint & Rame

Worldwide, a third of all food produced is wasted. Here in the UK, we are a major contributor with supermarkets daily binning thousands of tonnes of food that is still fit for human consumption.

​We expect to see shelves bursting with food, all with a long sell-by date, with no blemishes or damaged packaging but only a fraction of what we see is actually consumed as intended. This is massive waste of the investment of CO2 used to get it there in the first place.

​The rest is destined – packaging and all – for landfill. Meanwhile in the UK, food poverty is on the rise. This should not be happening!

​We use this ‘waste food’ from just three local Coops, a local grocer and a local bakery to feed around one hundred people a week.

Normally, we operate our pop-up cafés in four different locations each month.

​1st Friday:
St. Martin’s Church Centre, Liskeard

2nd Friday:

Millbrook Methodist Hall, Millbrook

3rd Thursday:

St. James’ Church Hall, Torpoint

4th Friday:

Maker-with-Rame Community Hall, Kingsand

​During lockdown, the cafes are replaced by delivery services in the same areas. Check https://www.facebook.com/cafeabundance.uk/ for times and dates, and https://www.cafeabundance.co.uk/get-involved for how to volunteer for the project.

Address
Cafe Abundance, Unit 5, Millbrook Works, Millbrook, Torpoint, PL10 1AA
Opening hours
varies
Disabled access
varies
URL
https://www.cafeabundance.co.uk
Social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafeabundance.uk/
Email
cafeabundancecic@gmail.com
Who may use the service?
Everyone welcome

Bude: Community Acivities in Bude & Stratton

A very useful listing from Christians Together in Bude and Stratton. Many of the activities are currently suspended during the lockdown, but will be added individually to SAM in due course.

We’d be delighted to receive similar listings from other areas! If you have one please send it in – many thanks

Download

Virtual Community Friendship Cafe

Read more

CPR Foodbank (Camborne, Pool, Redruth)

CPR Foodbank is run by the fantastic team at Transformation CPR.  They have over 50 volunteers helping weekly to distribute around 23,000 meals to over 540 families.

They are operating their normal voucher system and extra e-voucher system via isolated agents. For more information contact jen.manderley@gmail.com. Also for home delivery to isolated customers contact 01209 714592.

Donations can be left at St Andrews Church, Redruth and Centenary Methodist Church during opening times. Also, Central Warehouse, Pool Industrial Estate, Wilson Way, Redruth TR15 3RX between 9-3 Monday to Thursday. This is situated behind Bombadingas (Children’s soft play).
Local supermarket donation points: Tesco Redruth Tolgus Hill, Redruth TR15 1AX; Tesco Camborne Wesley St, Camborne TR14 8DT; Tesco Pool; Morrisons Pool, Pool, Redruth TR15 3NH

Address
St Andrews Church, Albany Road (Mon)/ Centenary Methodist Church, Centenary Street (Tues-Fri), Redruth/ Cambourne, Cornwall, TR15 2FJ /TR14 8HS
Opening hours
(St Andrews Church)Mondays 10:30am-12:00pm, (Centenary Methodist Church) Tuesdays 1:30pm-3:30pm; Wednedays 5.30pm-6.30pm; Thurdays 10:00am-12:00pm; Fridays 10:00am-12:00pm
Disabled access
yes
URL
http://cprfoodbank.co.uk/
Social media
Facebook, Instagram
Phone/Mobile
+441209714592
Email
transformationcpr@hotmail.co.uk
Who may use the service?
Voucher holders

Falmouth Salvation Army Church and Community Centre Foodbank

The Falmouth Salvation Army Church and Community Centre Foodbank give access to emergency food provisions to those in need in the Falmouth area. It is run by salvation army volunteers as one of the many community services ran by the organisation in Falmouth. 

Non-perishable food donations are very welcome. Any donations can be dropped into the Foodbank when the team are open during the times detailed below.

Address
Falmouth Salvation Army Church and Community Centre, Brook Street, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3RJ
Opening hours
Tuesday to Friday, 11am-1pm
Disabled access
yes
URL
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/falmouth
Social media
Facebook
Email
falmouthchurch@salvationarmy.org.uk
Who may use the service?
Everyone

Hayle Foodbank

Hayle Foodbank was set up in 2012 by volunteers: members of Churches Together, the Labour Party, local businesses and the Town Council. The foodbank relies on support from the local community through donations of food items, financial gifts and volunteer time. All the supplies in the foodbank store are either donated by the local community: churches, supermarket collections, schools, individuals, and businesses, or purchased using cash donations. The foodbank also benefits from support from Helston Foodbank.

A network of local agencies refer people in crisis to the foodbank, where they will find a non-judgemental environment and be offered an emergency donation of food. People referred receive a voucher entitling them to 3 x 1-week supply of food. Those needing help with food in the
Hayle area are asked not to come to Hayle Food Bank personally but to e-mail a request to
haylefoodbank@yahoo.co.uk preferably by Thursday in any given week. The supplies will then be delivered to their door by a volunteer member of the Food Bank.

Donations can be dropped at the foodbank on a Saturday mornings 9.30 – 10.30. Hayle Methodist Church, Chapel Hill, Hayle TR27 4JU or at local supermarket donation point; ASDA supermarket Hayle: 1 South Quay, Hayle TR27 4EP.

Hayle Foodbank posted on Facebook 10th April: We are now a delivery only service whilst lockdown is in place. We have also moved to referral by email so you don’t need to see the GP, health visitors, teacher, CAB etc. in person to get a voucher. The person referring you just needs to email haylefoodbank@yahoo.co.uk. If you already have a referral and have some weeks left on your voucher you can just email us yourself. Please include your name, address and contact number. We will also now accept a Universal Credit letter as a referral. We know there has been a surge in applications for UC from people who have lost their job due to Corona. Please, please don’t be shy, if you are out of work and need us, we are here for you. No one needs to be hungry.

Address
Hayle Methodist Church, Chapel Hill, Hayle, TR27 4JU
Opening hours
Hayle Foodbank is now a delivery only service whilst lockdown is in place.
Disabled access
yes
URL
http://www.haylemethodist.co.uk/about-us/hayle-foodbank/
Social media – check all that apply
Facebook
Email
haylefoodbank@yahoo.co.uk
Who may use the service?
Voucher holders

Helston and The Lizard Foodbank

Helston and The Lizard foodbank is run by local people for local people – they rely on the community’s support to ensure they can continue to stop people going hungry. They are also part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust. They are based at the Open Door Community Cafe and provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.  

Although you will not be able to come into the community cafe at the moment, they are still operating the foodbank. If you have a red voucher and need food please contact them by phone or email as detailed below (for emergencies phone 07833892289 and an alternative email address is mustardseed@post.com) or post your voucher through the Open Door Cafe post box but please remember to add your contact telephone number on the back of the voucher otherwise they will not be able to process it. They will then let you know how you will be able to obtain your food. If you do not have a red voucher please contact by email or phone and they will direct you as to how you may be able to obtain one.

Anybody wishing to make food donations to the foodbank project, please use the collection points at the following supermarkets; Helston Tesco, Clodgey Ln, Helston TR13 8PJ; Helston Sainsbury’s. Clodgey Lane, HelstonTR13 8BN; Helston Lidl, Penzance Road, Helston TR13 0SF (please check first if this donation point is in operation). They will not be able to accept any food donations at the Open Door Cafe or their warehouse. 

Address
The Open Door Community Cafe, 14 Wendron Street, Helston, TR13 8PS
Opening hours
Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 10am and 2pm (on the phone number; 01326 564194)
Disabled access
yes
URL
https://helstonthelizard.foodbank.org.uk/
Social media
Facebook
Phone/Mobile
+441326564194
Email
info@helstonthelizard.foodbank.org.uk
Who may use the service?
Voucher holders

Callington Foodbank

Callington foodbank  provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.  They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

The foodbank works using a voucher referral system. To find out more about the agencies that hold our vouchers and how you can get help, please contact via the website or contact details below. If you have received a voucher and cannot get there, please ring 389576 and they will deliver the foodboxes to your home.

They can receive donations when the foodbank is open, at the local donation point that is still open; Tesco, Tavistock Road, Callington, PL17 7RD. Financial donations can be made online at: http://www.callington.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donatemoney

Address
1 Launceston Road (in the Mustard Seed church car park), Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7BS
Opening hours
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 2pm-4pm, clients are being served pre-packed parcels at the door
Disabled access
Yes (ramp at Mustard Seed church)
URL
http://callington.foodbank.org.uk
Social media
Facebook
Phone/Mobile
+447931011459
Email
callingtonfoodbank@gmail.com
Who may use the service?
Voucher holders
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