SHRUB Cooperative is an Edinburgh-based charity dedicated to promoting circular economy practices, environmental education, and community participation in sustainable climate action. 

Our mission is to keep clothes and preloved items in circulation, benefiting local residents and reducing waste. We strive to empower behavioural change in a world dominated by excess consumerism, enhancing resource efficiency and addressing critical environmental issues - from waste reduction to promoting sustainable transport. In 2023 alone, SHRUB saved 155 Tonnes of CO2e and diverted 28.5 Tonnes of household items, food, and clothing from landfills, redistributing these back into our community.

The Food Sharing Hub, in particular, is committed to reducing food waste and providing dignified food security to those in need.

To ensure that sustainable living is accessible to everyone, we keep our services either free or at a low cost. In order to do that , we have to rely on external funding. The challenges posed by COVID-19, the cost-of-living crisis, and decreased funding for charities have left SHRUB in a precarious financial position.

We are seeking your support to fund the Food Sharing Hub and cover our usual operating costs. By contributing to our campaign, you will help us continue creating a world without waste and ensure that our services remain available to those who need them the most.

Your support will secure the continuation of the Food Sharing Hub and our zero waste projects, ensuring we can keep providing essential services and fostering sustainable living practices in Edinburgh.

Our food recovery network forms a collaborative circular economy in the food industry in Edinburgh, effectively reducing the carbon footprint of consumers and food vendors. Despite our achievements, sustaining the Food Sharing Hub long-term, and covering all the functions that keep a modern non-profit running sustainably, has become more challenging than ever.

Every donation will make an invaluable difference to our community members, volunteers, staff, and those who are new to climate action.

The Food Sharing Hub averages 1,128 visits each month, providing a crucial safety net for individuals who may not have access to traditional welfare systems and saving approximately 7 tonnes of CO2e/2 tonnes of food per month.

Over the past three years, the demand for the project has increased significantly, serving a diverse range of people, such as students, adults with disabilities, pensioners, and people without the right to work. 

With £37,260 we can:

• Save 133 tonnes of CO2e/35.1 tonnes of food.
• Increase the amount and type of food we collect and redistribute through our Food Sharing Hub, from 300 to 500 kilos a night.
• Hire a dedicated project coordinator for one whole year.

With an additional £12,740 we can:

• Support the running costs of the Zero Waste Hub for an additional 6 months.
• Support our Zero Waste Hub staff and volunteer teams in their day-to-day operations.

If we exceed our target, we would like to:

• Provide additional support to the running costs of the Zero Waste Hub & Wee Spoke Hub for an additional 6 months.
• Provide additional support to our Zero Waste Hub & Wee Spoke Hub staff and volunteer teams in project administration, monitoring, evaluation and reporting to ensure sustainable project continuation.

We have just 6 weeks to raise £50,000, and every donation (up to £250) will be match-funded by the AVIVA Community Fund. This means your contribution will have double the impact!

As a token of our appreciation, we have prepared a series of rewards for you to choose from when making your donation. Simply select your preferred reward or enter the amount you wish to contribute, fill in your details to confirm payment, and don’t forget to share our crowdfunder with your friends and family!

Please note: We have separated the rewards to ensure they are suitable to your personal needs. If you would like to have more than one reward, please choose the reward with the highest value first as the AVIVA Community Fund will only match-fund your first pledge.

Below, you’ll find detailed information about our various working groups and the exciting rewards we have prepared for you.

At the heart of SHRUB's journey is the Zero Waste Hub, a vibrant space where you can buy and exchange preloved items at the Swapshop, enjoy rescued food at the Food Sharing Hub, and buy delicious, sustainable treats at the Vegan Café.

We're excited to offer a series of eco-friendly Zero Waste Product Bundles, Mystery Books and Gift Cards for use in our Swapshop or Vegan Café. These rewards are designed to support your sustainable lifestyle or help you get started on your journey towards zero waste living.

Please note: We aim to have the bundles ready for collection approximately two weeks after purchase. Gift card vouchers will be exchanged for £10 gift cards at the Zero Waste Hub and can be used together or separately - any unused individual gift card credit will be written off as a donation to the Zero Waste Hub.

Zero Waste Hub Wish List: To continue the Food Sharing Hub, Swapshop , Workshops & Events, and Vegan Café projects, with dedicated project coordinators and support staff.

The Sustainable Textiles group, run entirely by dedicated volunteers, is committed to promoting sustainable fashion and reducing textile waste by empowering individuals to mend, reuse, and repurpose clothing.

Over the past year, we have reached over 300 people, from beginners to fashion enthusiasts, providing them with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance their sewing skills and repair their clothing. This initiative not only reduces textile waste but also significantly lowers the carbon footprint of the fashion industry, with every kilogram of repaired clothing saving approximately 25 kg of CO2.

You can start your own sewing and mending journey by selecting one of our DIY Kits or the exclusive (inclusive) rewards offered by Mary Morton, our expert sewing volunteer and founder of Edinburgh Street Stitchers.

Sustainable Textiles Wish List: Table lamps, sewing & woollen mending kits, sewing machine servicing, specialised sewing tools, event supplies and roll-up displays, and project oversight support. 

The Wee Spoke Hub is an inclusive bicycle repair and maintenance workshop promoting active travel and empowering people from marginalised communities to embrace cycling for their daily commutes.

As the project nears the end of its funded grant period, we are seeking support to continue helping people gain confidence in cycling and learn bike maintenance skills. Our dedicated Wee Spoke Hub team have prepared a series of Bike Service & Repair rewards designed to help you keep your bike in top condition.

Wee Spoke Hub Wish List: The continuation of the dedicated project coordinator and communications & volunteer coordinator roles, an additional mechanic to support peak cycling season, and research and development fees to support a new Wheelchair & Handcycle Repair project. 

We currently have 505 members, including 124 volunteers who are the very reason we do what we do. Our members actively engage in taking action on pressing environmental issues, from hosting and participating in workshops on zero waste living to advocating for policy change and supporting those experiencing socioeconomic difficulties.

A SHRUB membership includes:

• Tokens for the Swapshop when you bring in donations of clothes, books or bric-a-brac
• A 10% discount at our Vegan Café
• Access to the members' free rail at the Swapshop
• Discounts at paid Workshops & Events
• Discounts on bike parts at the Wee Spoke Hub
• Discounts on booking of our lovely spaces for personal use
• Invitation to members' parties and decision making meetings
• Being part of an active community of change-makers & climate action enthusiasts
• Supporting our vision of a world without waste and the creation of a circular economy in Edinburgh

Please note: You can choose a membership for yourself, a friend or as a gift for a community member in need. Memberships are available for either £18 for 6 months, or £24 for 12 months. From July 20, 2024, to August 31, 2024, you can also purchase a Lifetime Membership, for you or a friend, subject to availability.

We are beyond thankful to each and every person who has contributed to our mission - thank you for helping us create a world without waste :)

If you would like to share our campaign with your friends, please visit our social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. 

To learn more about our work, visit our website SHRUB Coop | Vegan Cafe, Swapshop, Food Sharing Hub, Events Space. Alternatively, stop by our Zero Waste Hub on Bread Street or Wee Spoke Hub on Guthrie Street in Edinburgh to meet our friendly and welcoming staff and volunteers.

SHRUB Cooperative, Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Scottish Charity Number SC048825)