ADULTS with learning disabilities are receiving free food from an East Dorset charity that promotes sustainable living, thanks to food donations from Tesco.

Sturts Community Trust offers land-based work opportunities, individualised assistance and supported living for adults who have a learning disability. Food used in the kitchens is made available because the charity is part of Tesco’s Community Food Connection, in partnership with food charity FareShare.

The Trust, located in Ferndown, has four houses where its 24 companions are supported in their everyday life, each with their own responsibilities of working on the land and cooking for themselves in the kitchens.

Lee Doran, Social Enterprise Manager at the Trust, said: “The donations we receive from Tesco are used for cooking at our community clubhouse, where everyone comes together at lunch after working on the land, in the Deli Kitchen and Community Kitchen.

“As a small charity we have to be very mindful of expenditure, so the donations we receive we are very thankful for. We’re all about enabling the individual and are firm believers in food bringing people together.

“The food helps so much with the meals the companions prepare for the community at lunchtime. We are also big believers in no waste, so we want to make sure that everything is eaten.”

Roberto, one of the companions at the Trust, added: “I’d like to say thank you so much to Tesco for the food. It is really good, and I enjoy cooking it when it arrives. We have lovely meals here.”

In addition, Sturts Community Trust has made land available for allotments for people from the wider community.

Tesco’s Head of Community Alec Brown said: “We are proud to work with Sturts Community Trust, whose dedication to the community is amazing. They have already helped so many people, and we are so pleased to be working with them to assist even more people in need.”

Since launching in February 2016, Tesco’s Community Food Connection has donated surplus food to more than 7,000 local charities and community groups. The scheme pairs Tesco stores with local charities and community groups by alerting them to available unsold surplus food items via a mobile app. This food can then be collected by charities and supplied to people in need, ensuring that no good food goes to waste.

FareShare Chief Executive Lindsa Boswell said: “The food that Tesco donates makes a really makes a big difference to local charities and communities across the UK. We are pleased to have been able to work with Tesco over the past four years to create this pioneering scheme, which is the biggest of its kind in the UK.”