Food waste scheme helps families across West Midlands schools get through the week

A scheme redistributing surplus food is helping families in the West Midlands get through the week, with programmes now running in schools across the region, including in Birmingham and Walsall.

The initiative works by collecting food that would otherwise go to waste and channelling it to households in need through school-based distribution points, giving families access to extra provisions without added cost.

Organisers say the approach addresses two issues at once: reducing food waste while easing pressure on family budgets, particularly for households that may be struggling with the cost of living.

By operating through schools, the scheme reaches families directly within their communities, making use of an existing network of trusted local institutions to distribute food efficiently across the West Midlands.