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Description
Organisational Grant - implementation of the submitted strategy.
Our mission: The Union of Food Bank Associations in Tricity is a networking organisation. We save food from going to waste. We support those in need. We educate people on the consequences of food waste and its prevention. We work together for change. Our vision: We develop our services, continuously improve and acquire new skills. We find innovative, effective ways of doing things and introduce new ways of saving food from going to waste. We are a credible, trusted, reliable and responsible partner and advisor. Our goals are: • To develop a network of partnerships, • To provide dignified assistance to those in need, • To reduce food waste, • To be a leader in high-quality innovative solutions. Our partners are NGOs with a social and charitable profile, individuals – the beneficiaries of the Community Shops and other aid projects aimed at supporting people at risk of exclusion and poverty, public administration and business, especially food industry companies. The most important activities we want to implement in the next 3 years are: • developing the potential of the team (including expanding competences and improving internal communication); • widening and strengthening the network of cooperation with partners from the public administration sector and NGOs; • improving our image and external communication (including communication with partners); • improving the quality of services provided in the Community Shops. We will regularly monitor the extent to which results are being achieved by identifying milestones, conducting monitoring and evaluation of activities, combining qualitative research with analysis of the data obtained.
Summary of project results
We identified three main problems that were to be solved in a 3-year perspective:
1/ High attrition rate and limited competences of part of the team
2/ Improving the professionalization of services
3/ Changing and modernizing the image
Training and study visits were intended to improve the team''s competences. We wanted to achieve professionalization of services by creating a friendly, professional work environment and improving internal communication. The change and modernization of the image were to be achieved by changing communication with external customers, examining their real needs and expectations, and changing the branding of community stores.
During the implementation of the project, we carried out 4 study visits, which prompted a change in communication with our clients and became an incentive thanks to which we established a Foundation that runs a business and partially finances the Bank''s activities. We held meetings with our clients - Organizations and customers of community stores. We created a common drive to facilitate internal communication and began intensively implementing the CRM Sugester program to improve communication with external customers. We fulfilled the needs expressed by our clients to change the image and visibility of volunteers during the collection by distributing new, aesthetic outfits. Customers of the community store protested against the change in store branding, but - to meet their demands - we purchased new equipment: refrigerators, desks, chairs and repainted the rooms. We also purchased new equipment - phones and computers, which improved the quality of communication and, also, the quality of photos for creating posts on social media. The networking meetings organized as part of the project turned out to be a success - our Partner Organizations began to cooperate and help each other. Thanks to new collection volunteers'' outfits and intensified communication with clients and acquiring 4 new Partner Organizations, the recognition of the Food Bank in Tricity increased significantly. We have intensified our educational activities, among others, by equipping the conference and training room. The room also serves as a place for periodic meetings with Partner Organizations.
The project brought tangible benefits for the Food Bank in Tricity and its surroundings. Key results include: Improved communication: Study visits led to a change in the customer communication strategy, supported by the implementation of the Sugester CRM system and a shared drive. The purchase of new computers and telephones improved the quality of communication and promotional materials. Increased recognition: New volunteer uniforms, intensified communication and the acquisition of 4 new partner organizations significantly increased the Bank''s recognition. Strengthening cooperation: Network meetings resulted in cooperation between partner organizations that support each other. Infrastructure improvement: Modernization of community stores (new equipment, renovation) had a positive impact on their operation, despite initial customer protests. The equipment in the conference and training room enabled the intensification of educational activities and partner meetings. Establishing a Foundation: Establishing a foundation that partially finances the Bank''s activities ensures financial stability and long-term development. Beneficiaries: Food Bank in Tricity: Gained by improving its image, operational efficiency, recognition and financial stability. Partner Organizations: Benefit from increased collaboration, support and networking opportunities. Community store customers: Received better conditions in stores thanks to modernization. Volunteers: Benefited from an improved image and better working conditions. Partner Organizations: Benefit from increased recognition and effectiveness of the Food Bank through networking opportunities, improved communication and increased donations.