East Lothian New Horizons Housing Services assists people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are homeless and preparing for independent living on a limited income.

The group, which is based on Haddington’s Florabank Road, provides a welcoming space, professional and non-judgemental counselling and support services, focusing on key areas the young people require support in.

Steps include teaching all practical skills needed to manage and maintain their own tenancies, and emotional support to manage all aspects of living independently.

Now, the group has teamed up with Tesco and charity FareShare to receive items from the supermarket and distribute to young people in need within the area.

Food donations will come from the neighbouring Tesco store through the supermarket’s Community Food Connection (CFC).

As well as collecting food from Tesco, East Lothian New Horizons also received a generous grant through the Tesco community grants initiative, which has been used to provide all new young people moving in with a suitcase of basic supplies, such as a first aid kid, personal toiletries, cutlery and a £10 Tesco voucher.

Jane Moodley, team leader of housing support at East Lothian New Horizons Housing Service, said: “The use of this grant to buy essential items is greatly appreciated by our young residents, who are arriving at the facility with little to nothing.

“Likewise, the food donations allow our young people to budget their money for other essentials, without going hungry.

“We’d like to thank Tesco and FareShare for helping us with this project and their involvement with the local community is wonderful to see.”

The CFC scheme ensures that surplus food from Tesco does not go to waste.

Instead, it is provided to charities and community groups, whose volunteer members then distribute it to the public.

Tony McElroy, corporate communications and sustainability leader at Tesco, said: “Working with community groups and schools, such as New Horizons Housing Service, to help them get the food and supplies they need is such an important service for us to provide.

“The dedication they have to their local community is amazing and we are pleased to do what we can to support.

“We firmly believe no good food should go to waste, which is why we began our Community Food Connection scheme. It enables us to ensure our surplus food is put to good use in communities.”

FareShare is the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste.

Two-thirds of the organisations it provides food to support children and families.

Katie Sadler, head of FareShare Go, was happy to be able to help.

She said: “The food that Tesco redistributes through FareShare makes a huge difference to people facing food insecurity across the UK.

“We work with thousands of charities and community groups providing essential support to their communities, and receiving a steady stream of food helps them to feed the people who need it most.”

Charities and community groups that could benefit from the support of the Community Food Connection scheme can find further information at fareshare.org.uk/getting-food