North West-based poverty charity, SVP Chorley Buddies, saved more than 50 tonnes of food which would have otherwise gone to waste in 2023.

Run by Centre Manager Hannah Sherlock, the befriending community group operates a heavily discounted and dignified shopping  experience for those struggling to buy everyday essentials without having to turn to a food bank.

Taking place every weekday in a different location across  Chorley town, seeking to make it accessible for all, members pay an initial  £10 joining fee and then £5 per shop, where customers will fill their bags  with everyday essentials like food, toiletries and pet supplies.

More than 1,000 individuals are now supported every week  by this initiative and demand is only increasing according to Hannah.

She says: “The demand for our service is increasing with more local  people using this service now more than ever. We work with FareShare to collect and distribute surplus food to our members, as well as collecting  surplus food from local supermarkets and businesses to save them from going  to landfill.

“Last year, thanks to the shoppers who came to us, we  managed to save more than 50 tonnes of food, 780kg of pet food, and 380kg of toiletries from going to landfill.”

Following the announcement of The Coronation Food Project  by King Charles III Charitable Fund last November, the team at SVP Chorley Buddies have since applied for £30,000 in funding to help continue to run the  service that helps so many in the archdiocese and beyond.

The Project was launched in a new bid to tackle food  insecurity across the UK by working with food-industry charities by  supporting their efforts to reduce waste and feed families.      

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