Registered
- Charity no. 111258
- Company no. 737010
- Date registered. 28/10/2026
Public benefits
The charity provides direct public benefit by giving individuals and families on low incomes access to affordable, good‑quality food and essential household items, helping them maintain adequate nutrition and reduce financial pressure. This improves health and wellbeing by preventing food insecurity, reducing stress, and supporting healthier
diets. Through wraparound support—such as budgeting help, benefits guidance, debt advice and employment support—people gain skills and confidence to move towards financial stability and independence. The social supermarket also reduces isolation by offering a welcoming, community‑based environment that encourages social connection. Additionally, the redistribution of surplus food delivers clear environmental benefits by reducing food waste and supporting more sustainable use of resources. The benefits can be demonstrated through clear evidence of how the charity supports individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. This includes tracking membership numbers, frequency of visits, and the savings members make compared with standard retail prices. Feedback, case studies, and surveys can show improvements in financial stability, wellbeing, and confidence. Records of support sessions—such as budgeting advice, benefits checks, and employment support—demonstrate progress toward independence. Social impact can be shown through increased engagement, reduced isolation, and positive feedback from members and partner organisations. Environmental benefits are demonstrated by recording the amount of surplus food redistributed and the reduction in local food waste. Collectively, these measures provide strong evidence of the charity’s positive public impact. No significant harm arises from the organisation’s purposes. Any potential risks are minimal and well managed. There is a small risk of individuals becoming dependent on subsidised food, but this is reduced through wraparound support that builds financial confidence and independence. Some people may experience stigma when seeking help; however, the dignified social‑supermarket model minimises this by offering a normal shopping experience. Food safety risks linked to surplus food are controlled through strict compliance with food hygiene standards. Any private benefit, such as staff being paid or volunteers gaining experience, is incidental and necessary to delivering the charity’s work. The charity’s beneficiaries are individuals and families experiencing financial hardship or food insecurity within the Mid & East Antrim area. These include people who struggle to afford nutritious food, essential household items, or who are facing short‑term or long‑term financial challenges. Beneficiaries may also include those who need support with budgeting, debt advice, benefits guidance, or employment assistance, as the organisation’s wraparound services are designed to help people move toward greater stability and independence. The wider community also benefits indirectly through reduced food waste, improved wellbeing, and increased community resilience. Any private benefit arising from the organisation’s purposes is minimal, incidental, and necessary to achieving the charity’s aims. Private benefits occur mainly through: Staff receiving salaries for delivering services. Volunteers gaining skills and experience through participation. Partner organisations engaging with surplus‑food redistribution in ways that may support their own sustainability goals. These benefits are unavoidable and are essential for the effective delivery of the charity’s work—for example, employing staff ensures safe food handling, proper support provision, and consistent service. Volunteer development is a natural and positive outcome of their involvement. All private benefits are secondary, are not the purpose of the organisation’s activities, and are wholly justified by the significant public benefit delivered through relieving poverty, improving health, and reducing food waste.
What your organisation does
The Affordable Food Collective carries out its charitable purposes primarily through the operation of a social supermarket, providing access to affordable, quality food and essential household items for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. By offering low-cost food in a dignified shopping environment, the organisation helps
reduce the impact of poverty and food insecurity while supporting household budgets. In addition to food provision, the organisation works to improve health and wellbeing by increasing access to nutritious food and encouraging healthier eating habits. Members are also signposted and referred to a range of support services, including welfare advice, debt support, budgeting assistance, employment support and other community-based services that help address the underlying causes of financial hardship. The organisation contributes to environmental sustainability by rescuing and redistributing surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Through partnerships with food suppliers, retailers and community organisations, surplus food is redirected to benefit local people while reducing waste and supporting more sustainable use of resources. By combining affordable food provision with practical support and community partnerships, the Affordable Food Collective helps individuals and families improve their financial resilience, health and overall wellbeing.
The charity’s classifications
- The prevention or relief of poverty
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- General public
- General public
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Community development