We’re pleased to share our new Surplus Food Toolkit with you, now published in the leader handbook (Note: the link might say ‘No Access’, but you should be able to view it if you’re logged into Notion on the device you’re using): ‣
This toolkit was created as part of our project with The King Charles III Charitable Fund, and our hope is that it will enable you to feel confident, equipped and inspired to start incorporating more surplus food items within your meals.
Whilst putting this toolkit together, we learned that 60% of food waste in the UK occurs in the home. We know many of you already bring/accept food items brought to meals, many of which are surplus/unwanted, and would otherwise to go waste.
The festive season often brings a multitude of food items through our doors, therefore, we’d be eager for you to take a moment to review the surplus food toolkit, and use the guidance to bring any appropriate surplus food items from your homes to your January meals. Whether that’s some leftover carrots and onions to add to a vegetable stew, or some biscuits you don’t fancy eating, which you’d like to share!
We’d love to hear how it goes, and if you have any feedback to share on the toolkit so we can continue to improve it!
Wow, what a year! 2024 has certainly been a year of challenges, opportunities, change and growth.
From January, our former CEO Ben Pollard was gradually stepping back from his role after founding Local Welcome in 2015, and after his departure at the end of March, we adjusted to a new, smaller team of four, co-managed by Andrew and myself (Celia). Over the summer months, we welcomed two new trustees - Annie and Mark, and said goodbye to Kylie and Clare who both continue to cheer on Local Welcome in the background.
As we adjusted to such great shifts in the makeup and management of our core team, we also learned a lot together with you - our brilliant leaders - as we gradually released the new ‘leader handbook’ model and made some big changes to our operational model.
We look back with much gratitude, as you beared with us through a few ‘bumpy’ points on that journey, and shared both kind words of support, and honest, transparent feedback in response to the changes. Despite some ups-and-downs along the way, we’re pleased to have received so much positive feedback in the latter half of the year, as you’ve reaped the rewards of having more autonomy as leaders and have enjoyed making more creative decisions for your groups.
Needless to say, the summer riots were also a time of challenge for the whole Local Welcome community. However, despite the distressing displays of division across the UK, we were heartened by your compassionate response as leaders. Despite us giving groups the option to cancel meals if you didn’t feel it was safe enough, all four groups with meals scheduled at the peak of the riots decided to go ahead. We feel Liverpool’s post on their Facebook page after their meal summed it up best ”This is the real Liverpool, people from all over the world, sitting down together and breaking bread”.
2024 was a year of impressive growth when it came to Local Welcome’s impact - in 2023 our smaller community of groups generated 1,352 hours of social contact, in 2024 your groups achieved 2,446 hours!
We’re finishing up 2024 feeling proud of what we’ve managed to achieve as a community, and both eager and hopeful as we prepare to step into the new year. We’re excited to welcome some new groups in Leeds, Hull and Plymouth in 2025, and already have some calls booked with potential founding leaders there in January. We’re also looking forward to seeing your groups grow and develop, and will continue to be there every step of the way to support you!