Menston Community Fridge
Ilkley, UK
We aim to reduce food waste by collecting surplus food from local retailers and distributing it free of charge to the local community. Menston Parish Council have awarded us a grant which covers all setting up costs, and will go towards running costs (insurance, electricity etc) for our first year. We will apply for further funding from local sources, such as Shipley Community Chest, to cover running costs. Whilst use of the fridge is free for everybody, people will be able to make a voluntary donation if they wish. The fridge is located at Kirklands Community Centre, at the heart of Menston, and is run by a group of volunteers. We operate under the 'umbrella' of Kirklands (Menston)Trust, a charitable incorporated organisation. The fridge is open to all members of the community, either to take food or to donate any surplus that they may have, according to our guidelines as to which foods can be accepted. In addition to providing access to healthy food, our fridge brings people together and addresses social isolation in our community. We work closely with Menston pre-school, primary school, churches, scouting groups and charities that provide support to the more vulnerable in our community. Everyone in Menston has the opportunity to become involved in this project, as a volunteer and/or as a user. We will develop the project in a number of ways over time, including community composters, a 'recipe bank' with ideas for reducing food waste, educational activities for pre- and primary school children, supervised volunteering opportunities for the Duke of Edinburgh Award participants, and cooking sessions.
What we've received