A COMMUNITY conscious nursery is helping to tackle food poverty by handing out free food.

Lordsmead Pre-School, which provides care and education for children aged two to four, is running a free food shop where those in need can get nutrition for their family.

The community school receives the food through Tesco’s community food connection scheme, which is run with food charity FareShare.

Rev Andrew Gubbins said: “We’re very grateful to Tesco and FareShare for the donations. They provide food for our most vulnerable families. The local Tesco team are amazing. They ensure we receive as much as they are allowed to give us, and more than 50 people in the community benefit from it.Having the food available to families helps to ensure that the children have food when they are not in school.”

The school started in 1976. It is an independent charity, run by a committee of parents.

Rhodri Evans, Tesco’s south west communications manager said: “We are proud to work with Lordsmead Pre-School, whose dedication to people with learning disabilities is amazing. Reverend Gubbins and his team have already helped so many people, and we are so pleased to be working with him to assist even more people in need.”

Since launching in February 2016, Tesco’s community food connection has donated surplus to more than 7,000 local charities and community groups. The scheme pairs Tesco stores with local charities and community groups by alerting them to available unsold surplus food items via a mobile app. This food can then be collected by charities and supplied to people in need, ensuring that no good food goes to waste.

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare Chief Executive said: “The food that Tesco donates makes a big difference to local charities and communities across the UK. We are pleased to have been able to work with them over the past four years to create this pioneering scheme, which is the biggest of its kind in the UK.”

Tesco is keen to hear from any charities that could benefit from this programme. Visit: www.fareshare.org.uk/fareshare-foodcloud