The easy way you can support YOUR community

Foodbanks are a necessity in the UK.

In fact, between April 2019 and March 2020, 1.9 million foodbank parcels were given to those in need*. But during the coronavirus pandemic that need has been on the rise.**

So that’s why it’s even more important for all of us to come together to support those who are struggling in our communities.

And you can do your bit with help from Actimel.

Between now and 30 April, for each promotional pack of Actimel you buy you can donate a second to a charity in your area, via the Actimel community donation hub***. 

Working with food redistribution charities FareShare (UK) and FoodCloud (Ireland), Actimel has set a target of donating 1 million bottles.

‘With millions of families struggling because of the pandemic and tough times ahead, we are grateful for Actimel’s donation enabling us to get Actimel to charities and community groups across the UK,’ says Lindsay Boswell, CEO of Fareshare.

‘This donation from Actimel, providing FareShare with at least 125,000 bottles, with a target of 1 million bottles, comes at a critical time and will allow shoppers a simple way to support the most vulnerable people in their local communities.’

And there are charities all over the country that will benefit. All you have to do is buy a pack and then choose the region where you’d like another to be donated. And that’s it! Simple!

You could make a real difference in helping to support our communities. Here are just three of the brilliant organisations that could benefit from Actimel donations.

Help support our communities: Actimel is giving shoppers the chance to give back to the charities that are helping their local communities stay resilient

‘We provide food and comfort without any stigma’ 

Peckham Pantry operates from St Luke’s Church in Peckham, Southwark, a borough of London.  

At Peckham Pantry, local families can pay a small fee to become a member and in return they’re able to access heavily discounted food which they wouldn’t normally be able to afford.

In fact, they pay less than a third of the amount they’d pay in store and can choose from meat, fish, yoghurt, fruit, vegetables, canned goods and dry ingredients like pasta and rice.

A volunteer at the Peckham Pantry

‘Being able to provide nutritious fruit and veg, so that families are able to have a balanced diet is absolutely vital,’ says Chris Price, Peckham Pantry’s Chief Executive Officer. ‘We are making sure what we provide for families is diverse and healthy.’

‘Members return because the pantry assures comfort and support while removing any stigma,’ says Chris. ‘The ability to pay a small fee, so it is not a hand out, while also choosing their own food, provides members with dignity and freedom.’ 

Want to help a charity like Peckham Pantry? Why not head to the Actimel community donation hub and send a pack to good causes in your area? 

‘By the time people ask for help, they need it immediately’

ENGAGE operates in North East England and is one of the many organisations stepping up to deliver extra support during the Covid-19 crisis.

ENGAGE, which operates in North East England, is one of the many organisations that have stepped up to deliver extra support during the Covid-19 crisis.

Established in 2015 by former assistant principal Ian Herron, ENGAGE was originally set up as an alternative education solution for students who had been excluded from school, or those struggling in conventional education.  

And it was one of these students who suggested they get together to provide food to vulnerable people in the community, and to those who were self-isolating during the pandemic.

And now ENGAGE is not only able to continue its work, but to help more people in need, thanks to food provided by FareShare and will be one of the beneficiaries of donated Actimel packs.

‘We wanted to act as a kind of emergency response,’ says Ian. ‘People in the UK, and particularly the North East, are very proud. By the time people ask us for help, they need it immediately, as they will have very little. The food from FareShare is allowing us to produce even more food parcels.’ 

And the project is also a great way for the ENGAGE students to give back to their community.

‘A lot of our young people are between 14 and 16, and are viewed by society as troublesome,’ explains Ian. ‘Some have had dealings with the police and are known around the towns as difficult students. It’s easy to see why people in the community would dismiss or judge these young people.

‘The scheme has allowed our students to pour their energy and focus into something worthwhile, and challenge the preconceptions of the community.’

There are inspiring charities like ENGAGE in your area so click HERE to visit the Actimel community donation hub to find out how to donate a pack of Actimel now.

‘We provide immediate support to people in need’

Footprints Women’s Centre in the Colin neighbourhood of Belfast has been supporting families and women in crisis for nearly 30 years.  

Foodbanks are crucial and even more so since the coronavirus pandemic began

FareShare has been helping Footprints to provide food to their members for over eight years.

This multi-service organisation runs a Community Cafe, a Social Supermarket and a Daycare, all of which provide food for those who need it in the local area.

‘The food from FareShare is such an immense support,’ says Eileen Wilson, Food Services Manager at Footprints. ‘We always say that providing healthy nutritious food is a route into the Centre for people in need.’

Like many local organisations, Footprints’ work became even more important when the pandemic struck, so donations of Actimel will be welcome.

With the help of FareShare, the group was able to deliver 10kg of food a week to 50 vulnerable families, until adjustments could be made to the Social Supermarket so it could reopen with social distancing and safety measures in place. 

Eileen added: ‘People have told us it really improved what their family would have eaten and also their sense of connection to the community and their mental health. It was a really important way of staying in touch.’

Click HERE to visit the Actimel community donation hub to find projects like Footprints in your area. 

*https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/

**https://www.trusselltrust.org/2020/09/14/new-report-reveals-how-coronavirus-has-affected-food-bank-use/

***Up to 1 million bottles of Actimel are to be donated. T&Cs: 18+. UK & Republic of Ireland. Start date 00:01 on 01/01/21. Closing date 23:59 on 30/04/21. Promotional packs. To participate, visit http://www.actimel.com, enter the unique code on the lid and select your community. Selection to be made from a list of different pre-defined regions that you can discover on our website. Limited to 100,000 packs donated in UK and 10,000 in ROI to food related charities, in the UK: FareShare (Charity No: 1100051), in ROI: FoodCloud (Charity No: CHY21177). Full T&Cs see http://www.actimel.com.

****Vitamin D and B6 contribute to the normal function of the immune system.