The Renewal Programme receives £70,000 of support from The ScottishPower Foundation for New Initiative
Thanks to the generous funding boost of £70,000 from the ScottishPower Foundation, we are excited to announce the launch of The Renewal Programme’s new initiative, Newham United Against Food Waste. This support will aid us in our effort to combat food insecurity in Newham, in a way that is mindful of the community’s environment and cultural needs.
Newham is highly diverse, with many cultures with rich culinary traditions where food is a central part of bringing people together. Whilst our foodbank provides vital food, we struggle to find the ingredients residents need to cook traditional foods, meaning many are forced to rely on unhealthy or unfamiliar options. By launching this project, we aim to provide Newham residents with culturally familiar food, which we hope will instil a greater sense of social cohesion and wellbeing.
Unlike larger-scale businesses, most independent businesses lack the capacity or contacts to direct surplus food to charities. Therefore, we plan to conduct outreach with local businesses to help them donate unwanted products and positively engage with their community. We will use the funds to recruit a Food-Waste Reduction Coordinator, and partner with local restaurants, shops, and market vendors to secure surplus food that would otherwise be wasted, redistributing it to local foodbanks, transported in a low-emission way via two cargo bikes.
As a charity, it is imperative that we try our best to remove any negative impact on the local environment where we can, and by purchasing cargo bikes we hope to be doing our part for both the environment and the community.
We will use the funds from the ScottishPower Foundation to recruit a Food-Waste Reduction Coordinator who will help us partner with local restaurants, shops, and market vendors to secure surplus food that would otherwise be wasted, redistributing it to local foodbanks, transported in a low-emission way via two cargo bikes to avoid excess environmental pollution.
“This is an incredibly exciting year for us, with so many amazing projects benefitting from our support and making a difference within their local communities. The real impact these initiatives will have for so many people can’t be understated and I can’t wait to see what amazing work these charities will continue to do throughout the year.”
Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation
The Renewal Programme is among nineteen charities across England, Scotland, and Wales that have been awarded funding from the ScottishPower Foundation totalling almost £1.2 million.
“We’re determined to ensure that regardless of background, no member of our community faces barriers to accessing the vital foods and products that they need – particularly if they’re from a disadvantaged background, who may be most at risk as the world around them continues to change.
A huge thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation for supporting the life-changing work that we do. Through our programme, we will ensure that those we support are given the opportunities to succeed.”
The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 to make a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK.
It provides funding to help support the advancement of education, environmental protection, arts and culture and citizenship. It also supports charities that aim to provide relief from poverty, disability, or other disadvantages.”
Peter Laing, CEO of The Renewal Programme
Further information on Newham United Against Food Waste Initiative is available at www.renewalprogramme.org.uk/.
