ALDI BICESTER

Food is supplied to us free by supermarkets and wholesalers and we redistribute to charities at no cost. This helps reduce food waste in the local area – one of our main aims The food is then distributed free of charge to other local charities who provide food for their clients This ensures that the food gets to the right people, and helps us to achieve our second aim of reducing food poverty It also helps these charities to provide much needed additional support in other areas by reducing their food costs Most of our operations are carried out by volunteers, helping us to provide around £10 of food for every £1 donated We believe that this is the most effective mode of operation and would happily provide advice for other new start-up food hubs wishing to follow our lead

The Bicester Hub: Where Community, Kindness and Zero Waste Come Together On any given hub session in Bicester, you’ll find tables brimming with everything from fresh produce to children’s toys, books, flowers, and yes — even the occasional roll of toilet paper. But what you won’t find is waste. Founded in May 2022 by five friends who had previously volunteered at a local community fridge. The Bicester Hub was born from a simple but powerful realisation: small acts of redistribution can make a life-changing difference. Seeing first-hand how rescued food brought relief, dignity and connection to local families, the group decided they wanted to do more. Not just food. Not just emergency support. But a movement rooted in community, environmental responsibility and generosity.

We go out and collect good quality food that would end up in the bin we make food parcels up for vulnerable families or elderly that can’t make it to the Community fridge and then everything else we give away to the public. We’ve been running for five years now we support round 300 people a week we open up four times a week and especially with the summer holidays now families are finding it really really difficult we like to help where we can. This doesn’t just help people that can get the food the Volunteers that come and help get so much from this and some of them don’t get out of the village and it’s a good interaction. It gives them a purpose of something good to do we a very good community we do lots of fundraising for running costs and our Xmas Hampers which brings a lot of joy for everybody around two.