Waste Not Want Not Battersea has been in operation since 2017. We collect surplus food from nearby markets and distribute it through local community and youth centres. We have built relationships with traders in New Covent Garden Market and other local retailers and save around 150kg of food every week from ending up in the bin. Our volunteers need a REFRIGERATED DELIVERY VAN so we can easily take more surplus food and share it with our community.

Our main issue is transport, we now have the capacity to pick up a higher volume of fresh food and to use it specifically to respond to the coronavirus crisis. Market traders and authorities have already agreed to this however we need a suitable vehicle and budget for a driver to pick up food and bring it to be prepared for community delivery. We also now rely on volunteers to distribute the food safely to people who are self isolating or vulnerable members of the community i.e the elderly, disadvantaged families and those facing unemployment who may struggle to afford food throughout this crisis.

- Ensuring a source of fresh healthy affordable food for the sick or vulnerable

- Being able to pick up food donations both from local providers we are already working with and additional offers which are already coming in and we have been unable to collect due to lack of resources.

- Delivery of food for people who cannot go to the shops due to symptoms / self isolating due to risks to their health, minimising stress, anxiety and potential health risks to other members of the community if people are forced to go out although they are unwell or in the high risk categories

- Mobilizing of volunteers to safely (with appropriate clothing and safety guidelines) distribute food and support people practically throughout the coronavirus crisis

- Supporting local key workers and their families with food packs and cooked meals so that they can rest when they are off work

-Working with local schools and other care providers to identify the most vulnerable in our community to benefit from food care packages (This is already beginning to happen and the level of need is apparent)

- Buying a refrigerated van, with insurance for drivers to support fresh food collection and other donations

-Budget for drivers and running costs for the van

- Picking up fresh produce that would otherwise be wasted from New Covent garden market four times a week (with additional days available as needed). As well as other food that is donated from partner organisations that we already work with.

- Working with volunteers to create food packs to be collected or delivered to people within the community

- Working with local churches, organisations and schools to identify those in need to ensure aid gets to the most vulnerable. We operate from The Venue Community Centre and are working with Providence House, St Saviours and other groups in mobilising food distribution. We are linking with Coronavirus angels and have set up WhatsApp groups and communication methods to find and respond to the local need and for people to refer to us for specific food support.

- Appointing an administrator who can manage the referrals from different groups and sources and keep records of who we are supporting - maintaining GDPR, safeguarding and practical support for volunteers coming forward to help.

We are already delivering this help but our work is seriously limited due to transport and staffing issues. With this fund we will be able to respond to need daily within Battersea to meet the need that is becoming more apparent due to the impact of the virus. We aim to be able to respond to requests within 1 hour and to arrange deliveries as needed within 24 hours. Dependent on the need and our capacity in relation to the volume of referrals this could be sooner.