Our staff and students in Progress Schools Thrapston are making a conscious effort to reduce the amount of food waste they produce, and they didn’t stop there! Any leftover food is now being donated to their local homeless shelter, Envision Homeless Accommodation, ensuring it goes to those who need it most rather than being thrown away.
The initiative began in 2024, when Thrapston staff reached out to the shelter. With colleagues having supported the charity previously, staff recognised an opportunity to make a real difference.
The Thrapston team plan their food weekly to cater for staff and students. However, due to occasional absences or surplus, there are times when food is left over. Instead of letting it go to waste, the team decided donating it was a far better alternative. At the end of each week, fridges are cleared of any food that would spoil over the weekend, ready to be passed on to the shelter.
Students play an active role in the process, helping to gather and prepare the food for delivery. While the shelter is outside the immediate area – meaning students unfortunately can’t deliver it in person – their involvement is a key part of the initiative, helping them understand the importance of responsibility, compassion, and community action.
Executive Head of School, Jason Lewis, commented, “What Thrapston are doing is incredible and truly embodies what we stand for at Progress Schools. We believe it is vital that our schools lead and support initiatives like this, as they bring our core values to life. Not only does this help students understand the power of small acts of kindness, but it also encourages them to think beyond the school environment, recognising how they can positively impact their wider community and support those who may be less fortunate.”
This is exactly the kind of positive, community-focused energy we love to see in action. A huge well done to everyone involved at Progress Schools Thrapston – keep up the incredible work!
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