Neighbourly Know-How: Leveraging Surplus Donations to Make a Difference

For community organisations and good causes, accessing reliable sources of surplus goods can be transformative for operations and communities served. At Neighbourly, we've seen how efficiently-managed surplus redistribution can create sustainable support systems that empower local charities while also diverting good quality products from going to waste. 

So how does surplus redistribution work and how can your organisation maximise the potential of the product donations you receive? We’ve shared some of our practical insights to help.

How Neighbourly surplus schemes work

Neighbourly has partnerships with some of the largest supermarkets in the UK, as well as food-on-the-move retailers, to redistribute their surplus food via our good cause network. We partner each store with a rota of charitable organisations who collect surplus that would otherwise go to waste, ensuring that it can benefit those in the community who may have limited access to food. We also work with a number of retailers to redistribute their non-food surplus, including B&Q who redistribute surplus products such as plants, paint and tools, which aids good causes in DIY projects and transforming their spaces.

Managing and distributing surplus products effectively

Building an efficient surplus management system is critical for good causes:

1. Understand your organisation's capacity for handling surplus. Consider:

• Storage facilities (ambient, chilled, frozen)
• Transport capabilities
• Volunteer resources
• Distribution networks

2. Develop a sorting system so donations are managed efficiently when they arrive:

• Prioritise items by use-by dates
• Categorise by type (fresh, ambient, non-food)
• Allocate space for different categories
• Train volunteers in food safety and handling

3. Create flexible distribution pathways for surplus items that require different approaches, some options include:

• Direct distribution to beneficiaries
• Preparation into meals
• Secondary redistribution to partner organisations
• Preservation techniques for extending the shelf life of food

4. Be consistent with your collection schedules to help you plan staffing and resources:

• Commitment to regular collection slots 
• Dedicated collection teams
• Backup plans for unexpected large donations 
• Utilise available communication channels with partner stores

5. Measure and communicate impact (we do this bit for you!):

• Weight of food redistributed
• Equivalent meals provided
• Number of beneficiaries reached
• CO2 saved 

Reducing waste while supporting your community

As a charitable organisation, your efforts create positive impact in many forms:

• Community building: Regular surplus redistribution creates touchpoints for additional support and signposting
• Positive environmental impact: Every tonne of food you rescue prevents approximately 4.2 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions (source: The Felix Project)
• Resource stewardship: You're ensuring the water, energy and labour that created these products doesn't go to waste

Maximise your waste reduction impact and support your communities even further with these top tips:

• Share food preservation tips with beneficiaries (freezing, canning, etc.)
• Create recipe cards for meals that use commonly donated items
• Develop multiple uses for frequently received items, like bread or potatoes

Benefit from our newly launched Surplus Saviours® functionality

Our new Surplus Saviours® functionality has been designed specifically with the needs of the community in mind.

Over the coming months we’ll be inviting individuals to join our Surplus Saviours® community, a new scheme that is enabling individuals to collect free surplus food from supermarkets and stores where either smaller quantities or later evening collection times make pickups less feasible for charity collectors. The initiative has already been piloted in a number of M&S stores across the country with fantastic feedback. 

We’re prioritising good causes and their connected communities for these donations, so we’d love for you to share the news with any staff, volunteers or service users you think this would be suitable for. Head here for more information.

Getting Started

Whether you're new to surplus redistribution or looking to enhance your existing programme, we're here to support you. Our team can help with:

• Connecting you with suitable partner stores
• Advising you on how to implement efficient systems
• Measuring and communicating your local impact

Contact Neighbourly for help with accessing the resources your community needs and to learn more about Surplus Saviours®.