The Real Junk Food Project is a global network of pay as you feel concepts with the aim to abolish food waste and feed bellies NOT bins.

Globally, they divert surplus food and food that has exceeded its Best Before date, destined for waste and make it accessible for human consumption. They work with international and local partnerships to intercept food destined for landfill and redistribute it through a network of pay as you feel sharehouses, cafes and schools. With kitchens and cafes in places such as Birmingham, Brighton, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, North Cornwall and Plymouth, 38, 954 bellies have been fed since December 2013 and 1,167,459g of food has been saved to date.

The Real Junk Food Project Plymouth, featured in Just After Best Before, have been running since April 2016 and were the first Real Junk Food Project in the South West. Run by Jessie Sneyd and Vicky Rowan, the project started after setting up a Facebook page which received 245 likes in just 24hrs of it being uploaded. Since, friends, family and many others in surrounding areas have volunteered and helped out to make the project as great and successful as it is today, they currently work with 25 volunteers and are always grateful for more. Currently with 2182 followers, the project has successfully managed to carry out their aim of bringing people together through their food, reducing food waste and social isolation in their communities where friendships and social networks have been built. Needless landfill has been reduced and hungry bellies have been fed with delicious food instead.  

They work with local supermarkets, businesses, shops, food producers and farms intercepting food that would otherwise be thrown away. The food intercepted from these places help to produce healthy and nutritious meals that are made from scratch using lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. The Real Junk Food Project Plymouth have engaged with many different groups of people including the young, long-term unemployed, school and University students, families and youth clubs to inspire change and provide work experience and cooking skills to be learnt.

The Real Junk Food Project work with, supply food to and put on events at Mayflower Community Academy in Plymouth, Cornwall Refugee Services, Lent Lunches, Little Owls, Banardos Children, Upton Cross Community Center, The Bread and Roses and many more.

If you wish to read more about the amazing work they are doing, donate or find more information about volunteering please visit their Crowd Funder page.