Christmas cheer and beyond ... as new initiative turns surplus food into community opportunity.

More people in Hartlepool will be receiving vital food support this Christmas and into the new year, thanks to the launch of an ambitious new initiative designed to eliminate food waste and build community skills.

Match Hartlepool CIC, which runs in close partnership with the popular Church Street bar Blue Valentines, has successfully secured crucial funding from local charity The PFC Trust to drive forward its comprehensive charitable programme.

The funding has enabled the launch of the Neighbourhood Social and the Cost of Living Kitchen. These programmes are spearheaded by Jack Rose, who has taken on the vital role of community liaison and programme organiser for Match Hartlepool CIC, as well as being the operations manager of Blue Valentines.

The initial hurdle for the directors was finding the capacity to organise and drive their charitable ambitions forward while managing a busy restaurant.

“Earlier this year, we only had the basic idea of what we wanted our charitable initiatives to look like,” said Jack, who is also a director of Match.

“The other directors and myself were organising in our free time and whenever we had a moment to breathe during operating hours in the restaurant.

“We knew that in order to bolster our charity programme, we would need a member of the team to take the lead and devote time to organise, network and drive the process forward.”

The team applied to The PFC Trust’s grant programme, seeking funding to create the dedicated community liaison position - an application that proved successful.

With the new capacity, they launched The Neighbourhood Social, a direct response to food waste.

Jack said: “Like all restaurants, we have surplus food stock at the end of the week. Instead of writing off the food and sending it to the bins, we use up what we have and cook prepared meals for community centres that distribute the food to those who need it most.”

The initiative also includes a monthly dine-in event where guests are encouraged to ‘pay-what-they-want,’ with all proceeds going to local charities and organisations that support their mission.

Match Hartlepool CIC has also begun work on its adult education initiatives, specifically the Cost of Living Kitchen.

This is designed to equip attendees with vital life skills, financial literacy and applicable knowledge for the workforce.

Participants learn the ins and outs of commercial kitchen operations while simultaneously baking and cooking household staples to encourage cooking at home and promote independence and fiscal responsibility.

Jack said: “We hope that our approach will deliver immediate results while laying foundations for long-term success within the community.

“Our aim is to make sure that every member of our community will have access to food, community and opportunity. We want to expand to other communities that could benefit from our framework and establish a ‘North-East network’.”

The successful grant application through The PFC Trust - with aims to improve the lives and life chances of people across the North East - has provided a platform the team believes will be felt for years to come.

“The PFC’s support has exponentially launched our charity programme forward,” Jack said.

“With a dedicated member of the team working to deliver our projects, we have been able to set firm foundations for success and growth.

“I was extremely blessed when I was approached to take on the role of community liaison and quickly found a passion for bringing our goal of bringing Hartlepool together through food and fellowship to life.”

The support from PFC will be felt for a long time and has gone a lot further than the Match and Blue Valentines teams imagined.

Mike Walker, from The PFC Trust, said: “The PFC Trust is proud to support these vital community projects, which tackle food insecurity, social isolation and barriers to employment in some of Hartlepool’s most disadvantaged communities.

“By backing initiatives like the Cost of Living Kitchen, we’re investing in dignity, skills and connection. These programmes not only provide practical support but also bring people together and create opportunities for people who need them most.”

* If you are interested in volunteering with Match or attending any of charitable events, check out @bluevalentineshpl on Instagram.