Community Fridge Network I November 2017 - 2018 Impact report I Hubbub

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Community Fridge Network I M PAC T R E P O R T N OV E M B E R 2 0 17- 2 0 1 8

W W W. H U B B U B . O R G . U K

Community Fridge Network PROJECT SUMMARY

Community Fridges are registered places where surplus food is shared within a local community, by businesses and individuals. They are welcoming, social spaces that are open to all.

The ‘Community Fridge Network’ is a group of Community Fridge projects operating across the UK that are registered with the environmental charity Hubbub. These Community Fridges have met certain quality standards and are committed to supporting each other through sharing learnings and impact.

The network provides free support for any community group setting up or running a Community Fridge, enabling the concept to flourish across the UK and beyond.

This report outlines the impact Community Fridges across the country have achieved together (we/us/our in this report refers to members of the Community Fridge Network).

A MOVEMENT ACROSS THE UK 79 community groups are currently registered as part of the Community Fridge Network. 65 of these are in England. Other members are in Scotland (7), Wales (4) and Northern Ireland (3). 43 Community Fridges are currently open, with the remainder being in the process of setting up.

The majority of Community Fridges are housed in community centres and churches. Some are sited in cafes, universities, on street locations and in other managed spaces. The way Community Fridges operate varies greatly, and is tailored to meet local needs.

GROWING TOGETHER Different Community Fridge projects have taken it in turn to host bi-annual meet ups. These events have enabled us to share ideas and learn from each other.

We have shared what we think defines Community Fridges, what the main challenges are and how we want to see them grow.

W H AT W O R D S D O W E A S S O C I AT E WITH COMMUNITY FRIDGES? Connectivity Valuing food Fun Collaborative Warm & welcoming Inviting For everyone Diversity Multi-purpose Accessible Positive Sharing Engagement Rebuilding Understandable

User friendly Sustainable Ambitious Safe Classless Stigma free Not preachy Educational Relevant Inclusive Reduce food waste Family Challenging Complicated

W H AT W O U L D W E L I K E T O S E E G R O W AROUND COMMUNITY FRIDGES?

Recipe sharing Food demos Cookery classes Food education Community or cooperative buying Signposting and support

Upskilling volunteers Sharing other things Repair cafĂŠ Growing vegetables and fruit in spaces that are available

BUILDING FOOD DONOR SUPPORT

FOOD DONORS The vast majority of food re-distributed via Community Fridges (95%) is from national and local retailers and markets. The rest is from domestic donations including allotment holders.

Retailers have committed to donating to any Community Fridge that is part of the network providing their local stores have capacity. This includes Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Tesco via Fareshare Go, Costa Coffee, Marks and Spencer, Nando’s and Pret a Manger.

The following have also donated to Community Fridges in different areas; Lidl, Greggs, Spar, Waitrose, Londis, The Coop, Riverford Organic, Bookers, Total Produce, John Lewis, Brindisa, Air Bnb and Gail’s Bakery.

Other existing food surplus redistribution schemes are linking up to support Community Fridges in different areas, such as UK Harvest and Fare Share. London based projects can receive donations from The Felix Project and Plan Zheroes. There are also numerous local donors including local grocers, markets, bakeries, stores and cafes.

C E L E B R AT I N G O U R I M PA C T

REDUCING FOOD WASTE AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD Each Community Fridge operates slightly differently with different opening times and some being busier than others. For example, data submitted by 15 fridges in November 2018 showed that whereas some Fridges redistributed around 100kg a month, others were turning around a whopping 4 tonnes a month.

Based on data submitted by Network members, an average of 584kg of food is distributed per month per Community Fridge, enabling individuals and families to have access to fresh, perishable food that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

QUOTES FROM MEMBERS ‘The fridge provides an avenue for community engagement, whilst also helping to ensure that members of the community maintain a healthy lifestyle by having a balanced diet.’

Redmond Community Centre

‘The fridge makes people push their boundaries a bit more. We had one visitor who had never tried melon before, but because they were able to get one for free she was willing to try it.’

Godalming Community Fridge

SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES The exact number of people using Community Fridges has been hard to ascertain, and it can v ary greatly depending on the location of the Fridge and opening hours. Based on data submitted by 15 projects in November 2018, we estimate that there are on average 220 users per Community Fridge per month. However, some fridges report being visited by up to 1000 people per month.

A recent survey of 21 Community Fridges suggests the majority of users are women (59%) and of wide ranging of ages and ethnic backgrounds.

There are a wide range of reasons why people are using Community Fridges, ranging from helping to reduce food waste to helping save money when on tight budgets.

SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES The overwhelming feedback has been that the Community Fridges act as a ‘leveller’, enabling people to give as well as receive, and they reduce the stigma that can be associated with hand-outs. Community Fridges enable food to be redistributed in a dignified way that makes people feel good, as they know they’re also stopping good food from going to waste.

QUOTES FROM MEMBERS ’There is a definite mixture of people using the fridge.

Some low earners, some people looking to save money but also those who want to use it to do their bit for the environment.’

Godalming Community Fridge

‘The people who use our fridge are from an extremely varied ethnic mix. They would also be from a mixed socio economic background although few would be rich. There are families and single people.’

Millfield Community Fridge

‘Most people are on either (or any combination of) state benefits, debt management, low paid jobs, or just tight budgets. We have had people in tears on seeing fresh fruit & vegetables. People come in & say that if they can get fruit & veg from us they will have money to put towards kid’s shoes. We also have many people in who just want to make ends meet - lots of nurses. Also we have many “eco-users” who help balance the use and so it is seen as non-stigmatised (ie not just for poor people) which is very healthy.’

Chesham Community Fridge

‘Ballet class parents, to struggling families with small children, to older people and also homeless.’

Dorking Community Fridge ‘’We have a lot of older people use the fridge (65 age plus) they often come with their daughters and families.’’

Yaxley Community Fridge

COMMUNITY FRIDGES A S A ‘ G AT E W AY ’ Beyond providing food, Community Fridges are bringing people together and building community. Someone recently described them as a ‘gateway’, because they offer individuals welcome, friendship and support, including access to other services.

In a survey of 21 Community Fridges, 55% stated that people are signposted to other services from their project. All those surveyed stated that other things have been shared at Community Fridge sites; • 30% said people are sharing other household items.

• 50% said people are sharing skills.

• 45% state their Community Fridge is linked to

cooking workshops.

• 35% to food growing activities.

COMMUNITY FRIDGES A S A ‘ G AT E W AY ’ Some fridges are supporting other groups by passing on the surplus food in their fridge. For example, the Woodberry Down Community Fridge in Hackney diverted their food over the summer holidays to local family cooking programmes in order to support those who receive free school meals and miss these during the summer holidays. Other groups support youth cooking activities or lunch clubs for the elderly.

QUOTES FROM MEMBERS ‘People have not only gained food but a place to come. They have got to know their neighbours. It has had an incredible community impact.’

Millfield Community Fridge

‘It has definitely brought people together. Those who have food items, skills, time or money to give are doing so, those who need more good food to do more than just survive, are finding it at our Fridge. Many people both give and take, and tell us their stories.’

Leytonstone Community Fridge

‘It has been called a lifeline, and Goodwyns is becoming a social hub with the housing assoc. funding a tea/coffee service to have with the Waitrose cakes!’

Dorking Community Fridge

‘This is just the start. We want to have somewhere with cooking facilities so that we can have a “free cafe”, people can come in and heat up a meal and have a chat. The Let’s Cook sessions have to be held in alternate locations at the moment.

We would also like to have a community garden.’

Chesham Community Fridge

C H A L L E N G E S W E ’ V E FA C E D The demand is significant and the impacts wide ranging. However setting up and running a Community Fridge can be challenging, here are some of the key challenges we’ve faced:

especially in rural areas. Local solutions are being explored such as in Peterborough where 3 Community Fridges pay a small subscription fee to ‘Food for Nought’. Food For Nought is a social enterprise with a van which picks up and delivers food for all relevant projects in the locality.

1. Staffing and volunteer capacity

‘Our biggest problem has been with transport, collecting the food that has been donated. However, we now have 2 volunteer drivers who have been extremely helpful and much appreciated’ Camberwell Community Fridge

Community Fridge projects are heavily reliant on committed volunteers. Without adequate volunteer support fridges may not be able to function to full capacity. ’The biggest challenge is getting sufficient volunteers so that people aren’t overburdened. We have people to pick up food & sort it, people to accept deliveries, people to man the shifts, do endless admin/pr and to clean’ Chesham Community Fridge

2. Logistical challenges The transporting of surplus food between retailers and Community Fridges poses logistical challenges. Surplus from retailers is usually available at times when it is difficult to get volunteers to collect, i.e. late at night. Collections can be very time intensive for volunteers,

3. Demand exceeding accessible supply In some areas, groups are unable to meet local demand. This is for several reasons including the supply of food not being sufficient and not having enough volunteer and staffing capacity to manage it.

‘We have reduced the hours basically because we cannot get enough food to be open more than we are. This is despite the fact that we now get food from more supermarkets, cafes, farms and warehouses.’

Millfield Community Fridge

W H AT ’ S N E X T ?

We hope that the national network of Community Fridges will continue to grow and evolve over the next year. Hubbub’s core priorities for next year are informed by the current challenges and knowing where we can add value.

1. Deepen links with retail partners

4. Addressing transport needs

Making it easier to access surplus food.

Pilot ways to address the logistical challenges of transporting food. Explore new partnerships with delivery companies and other food redistribution schemes.

2. Host regional events To increase accessibility and strengthen connections at a regional level.

3. Explore an online platform Hubbub will explore appetite for an online platform or hub to connect Community Fridge Network members.

5. New technology Explore opportunities to test new technologies including completing the trial of Samsung’s ‘Family Hub’ refrigerator, with a Wifi enabled touchscreen and App.

6. Keep listening and learning The network will evolve based on listening and learning to Community Fridge projects across the country, considering what the role of a national network is and where it can add value.

TH A NK YOU ELLE@HUBBUB.ORG.UK R E G I S T E R E D C H A R I T Y N U M B E R 11 5 8 7 0 0