Uppsala Stadsmission, Sweden

In Uppsala, Uppsala Stadsmission (a Swedish city mission) runs Matcentralen, a food bank that receives several tonnes of perfectly edible surplus food each week from local supermarkets. The food is sorted and redistributed through weekly food parcels to people experiencing social and financial hardship. Around 430 households currently collect a parcel every week, but demand exceeds available resources.

About the project

With support from Kavli Trust, the project will expand and strengthen the initiative in three key ways. First, partnerships with the food retail sector will be developed and logistics improved to rescue and redistribute more surplus food.

Second, additional work-training placements will be created for people who are far from the labour market, helping them gain skills and move closer to employment.

Third, a community-based self-help programme will be established, centred around shared cooking sessions that provide social connection, practical skills and take-home meals.

By combining food redistribution with employment support and community building, the project addresses both immediate food poverty and the long-term causes of social exclusion.