The Co-op has launched a ‘community fridge’ pilot in Greenacres, Manchester with the aim of fighting tackling food insecurity in local communities.
A community fridge is a space that brings people together to eat, connect, learn new skills and reduce food waste. It is a site where local people can share food, including surplus from supermarkets, local food businesses, producers, households and gardens.
Oldham council leader Amanda Chadderton and mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham announced the project yesterday (1 March) at the Greenacres Community Centre.
The community fridge Network, coordinated by environmental charity Hubbub, already has operations open to the public in Brighton, Basingstoke and Chichester, with the convenience retailer bringing vital support and funding to the scheme.
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The fridge will be run by community groups with the main purpose of saving fresh food from going to waste, more important than ever with current ongoing high costs of living and the climate crisis.
Following the success of the Community Fridges through the In Our Nature programme, Hubbub and the Co-op were asked if they could pilot and fund a cluster of Community Fridges in a Greater Manchester locality which would provide one in every 30-50,000 neighbourhood footprint.
This cluster pilot is a first and Hubbub, the Co-op and Action Together have worked collaboratively to identify suitable locations and host organisations in communities to ensure there is equal coverage across the district.
“Our recent Greater Manchester Residents Survey found that 8 in 10 people say their cost of living has increased over the past month and around 70,000 more households are experiencing food insecurity compared to last spring,” mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said.
He added: “People are clearly struggling and that’s why projects such as Community Fridges are so vital in providing a safety net for those who need it.
“It will also contribute to our ambitions towards carbon net zero by reducing avoidable food waste by making sure it goes to people. I hope this pilot is a success and I look forward to seeing it rolled out across Greater Manchester,” Burnham said.
Oldham council leader, Amanda Chadderton, said: “For young people, some of which the cost of living crisis has heavily impacted, food insecurity contributes to increased anxiety, poor mental health, poor social and emotional development, and a reduced level of achievement in school.
“In September of 2022, over a quarter of households (nationally) with children experienced food insecurity, that represents over four million children. We also know that shockingly, 27% of UK children are living in poverty, and in Oldham this figure at almost 40%,” Chadderton added.
“That’s why I’m so pleased to see this scheme taking place as I know it will make a real difference to families and those who are struggling. One step at a time, ideas like this will help us work toward our goal of ending food insecurity and the inequalities it brings.”
Managing director at Co-op Food, Matt Hood commented: “We recognise our responsibility to make a genuine difference to the communities we serve and absolutely believe that everybody should have access to good food.
“We’re pleased to be working with our partners to grow the essential community fridge network to directly help people in Oldham come together to eat, connect, learn new skills and reduce food waste,” Hood said.
“Today’s launch shows true community spirit and co-operation in action,” Hubbub director, Aoife Allen said.
“We are proud that there are now over 450 brilliant community fridges across the UK, where anyone can meet their neighbours and take home good food that would otherwise go to waste.
“With support from Co-op and all our partners in Greater Manchester, we look forward to seeing the benefits that these community fridges will bring to Oldham.”
In September, Southern Co-op has donated £40,000 to help create more community fridges across the UK which look to tackle food waste and food insecurity.
