Ysgol Trefonnen has launched Llandrindod Wells’ first ever ‘Community Fridge’, with the support of environmental charity Hubbub UK in a growing effort to tackle food waste.
It is one of 100 new community fridges that will be opened over the next year, which are expected to save 6.8 million meals per year from going to waste.
The fridge, located at Ysgol Trefonnen will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays initially, to enable residents and businesses to share surplus food and for anyone to help themselves to quality food that would otherwise be wasted.
As well as improving access to food, the fridges go beyond this by empowering communities to connect with each other, and learn new skills through activities such as cookery sessions and workshops on how to grow your own fruit and veg.
The group will welcome donations of unopened, packaged foods within their use by date and raw fruit or vegetables, which will then be available to anyone in the community to take. As well as reducing food waste, the group will use the fridge to strengthen community bonds.
Ysgol Trefonnen is calling all local food businesses/allotment holders in Llandrindod Wells to donate surplus food.
Food waste is a big issue in the UK. The average household throws away £700 worth of food every year and at the same time 4 million people in the UK are living in food poverty. Most food waste in the UK is avoidable and could have been eaten had it been better managed.
Jen Craven said: “It was fantastic to see so many people turn out at the launch of the Community Fridge.
“We want to encourage as many people as possible to use it and help reduce food waste. Tea, coffee and cake is also available making it a social atmosphere as well where people can chat, exchange recipes and ideas.”
The fridge is one of a growing number opening up across the UK. The concept first arrived in the UK in 2016 with Community Fridges opening up in Swadlincote, Frome and London. Now over 50 projects are running across the country.
Some of the challenges faced by Community Fridges to-date are around the legal requirements and food hygiene. The world’s first Community Fridge Network has been set up by environmental charity Hubbub to provide free advice and support to Community Fridge organisers and act as a hub to enable communities to share their experiences and learn from each other.
To find out more about the Llandrindod Wells Community Fridge, donate or volunteer, please contact Jen Craven on [email protected] or call 01597 822190.
More information on The Community Fridge Network, including a map of fridge locations and advice for those interested in setting up a community fridge can be found at www.hubbub.org.uk/communityfridgenetwork