Author: Chris Alderson

Doctors are often approached by their patients with various, non-clinical concerns that don’t require medical attention. Or they may be suffering from anxiety because of debt, family grievances or grief. Doctors don’t have the time or resource to find the right support in such occurrences, which can be incredibly time-consuming in an already resourced stretched […]

In our ten years of operation as part of FareShare’s national network of food redistributors, SOFEA has spearheaded the fight against hunger and food waste. Establishing effective and lasting partnerships with our major food supplies is central to these aims. One such partnership is our collaboration with the international baker, Brioche Pasquier. A French family […]

While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine raged on, Hanna was forced from her home as a refugee and sought asylum in the UK in 2022. In Ukraine, Hanna had significant professional experience as a Health and Safety Officer, but she soon discovered that there were significant language barriers preventing her from finding work in Britain. In […]

Recently SOFEA received a Partner Recognition Certificate from the Illegal Money Lending Team in acknowledgement of the work SOFEA’s done to make Community Larder members aware of loan sharks. Over the course of a week, the Illegal Money Lending Team visited Community Larders in Westcroft, Waterhall and Coffee Hall as well as delivering a presentation […]

Last Tuesday saw the grand opening of the latest SOFEA Community Larder at the Methodist church on Marlborough Road in Banbury, Oxford. In attendance were representatives from various esteemed entities including officials from Cherwell Council, the Mayor of Banbury, the head of Banbury and Bicester College, local faith leaders as well as SOFEA staff and […]

Introduction In your mind, picture a classroom filled with 30 pupils. Of those 30 pupils, approximately 8 of them will be eligible for Free School Meals (FSMs). However, between 3 and 4 of the students will miss out, despite coming from low-income backgrounds that would make them eligible for FSMs. Why? While an overly restrictive […]

While the cost of living crisis shows no sign of easing, vulnerable people are having to make considerable sacrifices to try and save money how and where they can. The Money Saving Expert (MSE) has assembled an extensive list of money saving techniques, and below, are some we feel SOFEA’s beneficiaries could implement during these […]

Last year, the cost of a 1kg bag of own-brand rice from one of the Big Four supermarkets was 45p. Today however, that same 1kg bag of rice costs £1 for 500g, marking a price increase of 344%. These findings, among many more besides, have ignited a national conversation on food prices, the cost of […]

A major new survey of more than 1,200 charities and community groups, which rely on food from FareShare to feed more than 120,000 people at risk of hunger, highlights the dramatic impact the cost of living crisis is having on the most vulnerable families across the UK. FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger […]

SOFEA’s Community Food Members (CFMs) will receive £10,500 from Tesco stores across the UK that will be used to transport surplus food to vulnerable people throughout the SOFEA network. With special thanks to Bicester (£1,500), Banbury (£1,500), Henley (£500), Maidenhead (£500), Princes Risborough (£1,500), Oxford (£1,500), Aylesbury (£1,500), Reading (£1,500) and Windsor (£500). The purpose […]