Power of Resilience celebrated during Food Waste Action Week

A Tameside charity that is tackling food waste while helping residents facing financial hardship is being highlighted as part of Food Waste Action Week.

Tameside Council is shining a spotlight on Power of Resilience CIC, a community organisation founded by Julie Mallinson, during the national awareness week running from 9–15 March.

Since its launch in January 2021, the charity has gone from strength to strength, providing vital support to residents across the borough while helping protect the environment.

Power of Resilience operates three community food pantries across Tameside - one in Hyde and two in Stalybridge - where people can donate or collect food and essential items free of charge. The initiative encourages residents, businesses and organisations to share surplus items so that perfectly good food does not go to waste.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of more than 30 volunteers work tirelessly to keep the service running and ensure support reaches those who need it most.

Alongside the pantries, the charity also runs a soup kitchen and offers event catering, using food and ingredients that would otherwise end up in landfill and ensuring they are used before their expiry dates.

The organisation’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2025, Power of Resilience was awarded ‘CIC Charity of the Year’ at the Pride of Tameside Business Awards.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Environmental Services and Neighbourhoods, Councillor Laura Boyle, praised the charity’s work.

She said: “Power of Resilience CIC are an incredible organisation, and the work they’re doing benefits Tameside in so many ways. Not only do they provide crucial support to residents in need, but they also help reduce food waste and lower our borough’s carbon footprint. Keep up the fantastic work, it’s truly appreciated.”

Julie Mallinson, Executive Director of Power of Resilience CIC, said one of the charity’s proudest achievements has been engaging young people through its community kitchen.

“A proud moment of ours is seeing children that are engaging with our community kitchen, they are starting to eat food they never would have tried before,” she said.

“The children can learn to cook from scratch using food they’ve found in the pantry or that we’ve had donated, which is amazing to see.”

Food Waste Action Week highlights the importance of reducing food waste and making better use of surplus food, something Power of Resilience has been championing locally for several years.