IN the throw away society in which we live where many things go to waste it is refreshing to see surplus food being put to use - on a plate.

Launched in August, The Storehouse operates under the auspice of Inn Churches, a network supporting the homeless and vulnerable by providing accommodation in Bradford churches through the winter months.

Occupying 6,000 square feet of warehouse space off Wakefield Road, Bradford, The Storehouse is a central hub for the distribution of surplus food donated from supporters including St James' market, Fare Share, an organisation supplying surplus fresh fruit and veg, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons.

As well as distributing the food to communities in need, it also operates a pay-as-you-feel cafe within.

To help raise the project's profile, and demonstrate to its supporters its work in action and encourage their involvement, a community lunch was held on Tuesday.

For companies such as Marks & Spencer, the invitation led to their 'Spark Something Good' campaign getting involved in the event.

Staff spent Monday and Tuesday at The Storehouse, one of 24 projects they are visiting across 24 cities over 24 months as part of the campaign, helping out with some voluntary and maintenance work.

"Spark Something Good is a really apt name," says chief executive of Inn Churches which runs Juli Thompson, chief executive of Inn Churches, referring to the volunteer scheme led by Marks & Spencer which she says has now prompted interest from other companies to get involved

Feeding those in need remains at the heart of this project and the latest plan is to launch mini markets within local community centres.

"We trialled one at St John's in Great Horton and the feedback has been amazing," says Juli.

She recalls one elderly gentleman almost in tears after tasting suede and mash - something he hadn't been able to afford for years.

"Fresh fruit and veg is really important for health because if you get a lot of people growing up on tinned and packet food you wouldn't be able to sustain it and we have all this food for the children out there. They need food we just need the community groups to use our project and we can accept more."

"The demand is increasing. The numbers in some of the food projects has nearly doubled and a lot of it is down to benefit sanctions."

Juli explains how the community groups are cooking the donated fresh fruit and veg into meals.

She says the community groups have been particularly affected by the funding cuts and benefit sanctions are impacting on families. "And when their funding goes that is the one thing they look at is their food budget."

Juli says the project is already doing better than they anticipated but she says many people are still too proud to accept free food which is why they have the pay-as-you-feel cafe.

They also have a pay-as-you-feel approach for those who insist on giving something for their fresh fruit and veg. This is then ploughed back into the project.

"It is about dignity. People don't want to feel they are living on charity and hand-outs all the time so this makes them feel they are giving something back."

Chris Farren, financial operations section manager based at Marks & Spencer's store within The Broadway in Bradford city centre, explains 'Spark Something Good' is a nationwide project launched in London last summer.

Chris explains the work with The Storehouse is a development of the relationship they have built up with the project since M&S launched its new store in The Broadway shopping centre last year.

The Storehouse is one of a number of projects M&S support in re-distributing its surplus food which, instead of going to bio-fuel, is now being distributed out to different charities across the cities where it can be put to beneficial use feeding people in need in the local community.

During the two days M&S staff worked at The Storehouse, Chris explains they helped with decorating and maintenance. They also helped to create a mural and assisted with creating and serving a community lunch which was attended by 90 people.

He says he hopes the involvement of the 'Spark Something Good' campaign will raise the profile of The Storehouse and also raise awareness about the benefits it brings to the local community. "Hopefully more people will know about it and it can help out more," says Chris.