Newark Barnby Road Academy teams up with Waitrose and Morrisons in food surplus scheme

A school’s partnership with supermarkets is ensuring its less-fortunate families don’t go without.

Newark’s Barnby Road Academy has teamed up with Waitrose and Morrisons in a food surplus scheme.

Leftover supermarket groceries are collected in the evenings for distribution the following day — on offer for free to eligible families.

The school said it was collecting large amounts of food that would otherwise be thrown away, and that most of it could be frozen to make it last longer.

“We have set up a small free social supermarket in the back foyer where families can collect fresh and frozen food on a daily basis,” said school safeguarding and welfare manager Sam Oliver.

“The scheme operates to reduce food waste and to provide food to families in need or those on low incomes.

“Waitrose is also happy for surplus food to be distributed for free to the school community when there is a large supply of certain foods that would go to waste.

“This includes bread, vegetables, salad and fruit.”

Food is available for collection most days from 7.30am to 9am.

The scheme is on offer to families of pupils who have free school meals, are on universal credit or working tax credits, have low incomes, are in poverty with no recourse to benefits, or in significant debt or crisis.

Details will be kept confidential and if you are not able to collect from school, alternative arrangements can be made.

If you need support, contact Sam on 07981 162671 or email soliver@newarkbarnbyroad.notts.sch.uk