What is Food Connect?
Food Connect is a zero-emissions food redistribution service.
It was set up by Hubbub, an environmental charity which runs the national Community Fridge Network. Community fridges share food on an honesty basis, are open to all and reduce the environmental impact of food waste.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues, many of the Community Fridges have provided a lifeline to people struggling to feed their families. Food Connect has seen a further 17% increase in demand this year. This continues to rise across the country.
Food Connect uses zero emissions vehicles to collect food for multiple community fridges. it improves the efficiency and reliability of sharing food between businesses and community organisations.
Hubbub first trialled Food Connect successfully in Milton Keynes in 2020. The project has since scaled to three London sites in Camberwell, Merton and Waterloo.
This report provides the impact to date of Food Connect.
Since 2020 when the project began, we’ve been:
Improving surplus food redistribution for retailers and communities
1,870 tonnes food collected to date
That’s 233 classic double decker buses!
Addressing the challenges people face caused by the cost-of-living crisis
Developing a cost-effective and efficient model that creates fair, Living Wage green jobs
4.5M meals
16 part time jobs
“The ‘last mile’ is always challenging, to see reductions in both food waste and emissions (due to the electric vehicles used) really is a double win!”
LeePorter,FareShare
Improving air quality
*FiguresfromDepartmentforTransport 2023basedon a dieselvanproducing 228ggreenhousegasesper mile
130,000+ clean miles in e -bikes and vans
Almost 30 tonnes GHGs saved (transport)*
“A big thank you, to the team, for all they do, it’s truly amazing and well done. We feel so grateful to be able to help in any way we can”
SharonSimon
StoreManagerLidl, June2024
Food Connect Oasis Waterloo
Food Connect Oasis is run by Oasis Waterloo in South London and uses an e-cargo bike and trailer and a team of volunteers to collect food from local retailers and Borough Market.
The food is shared at Oasis Community Fridge at the Amigo Hall at St. George’s Cathedral and at the Oasis Waterloo Community Centre.
Since November 2022, Food Connect at Oasis Waterloo has been able to:
• Collect 14 tonnes of food
• Equivalent to 34,500 meals
• Cover 782 miles on an electric bike and trailer
• Collect an average of 150 – 200kg of food each week.
• Support 7,380 visits to a community fridge
• Save over 200kg greenhouse gases (GHGs) relating to transport*
• Train seven volunteers to become couriers
*FiguresfromDepartmentforTransport2023based on a dieselvanproducing228ggreenhousegasesper mile
Food Connect Merton
Food Connect in Merton, South London, is run by environmental charity Sustainable Merton.
Using an e-cargo bike and trailer, their team of riders collect food which is distributed at their thrice weekly Community Fridge sessions. This food is also shared with local partners including Clarion's Rutlish Community Fridge, Polish Family Association and Commonside Community Development Trust.
Since February 2023, Food Connect in Merton has been able to:
• Collect 36 tonnes of food
• Equivalent to 86,000 meals
• Cover over 4,500 miles on an electric cargo bike
• Collect 500-600kg every week
• Support 12,400 visits to a community fridge
• Save over 1 tonnes greenhouse gases (GHGs) relating to transport*
• Creating two flexible part-time, London Living Wage, green jobs.
*FiguresfromDepartmentforTransport2023based on a dieselvanproducing228ggreenhousegasesper mile
Food Connect Albrighton
Food Connect in Camberwell helps seven community organisations to access food in Southwark. The project is run by Albrighton Community Centre a thriving community centre in the heart of the East Dulwich Estate in South-East London. Powered by an electric van and a team of paid drivers Food Connect operates seven days a week.
Since March 2022, Food Connect in Camberwell has been able to:
• Collect 438 tonnes of food, equivalent to over one million meals
• Collect around four tonnes every week
• Cover over 30,000 miles in an electric van
• Support 31,865 visits to a community fridge
• Save over 7 tonnes greenhouse gases (GHGs) relating to transport*
• Employ five green, flexible, London Living Wage jobs.
*FiguresfromDepartmentforTransport2023based on a dieselvanproducing228ggreenhousegasesper mile
Food Connect
Milton Keynes
Food Connect Milton Keynes currently helps ten community organisations access quality surplus food that support projects such as community cafes, youth groups, children’s centres and community meals.
Netherfield
The Ark MK Unity park
Hedgerows family centre
Moorlands Family centre
Wise ones over 50’s group
Great Linford
Great Linford Community Hub Café
Great Linford Social Club
Willen Hospice
Great Linford Youth Club
Wolverton
Community Cookalong
Community Hub
Rehome Your Electricals
Repair Café
Community Barn Dance
Eat Your Pumpkin events
Craft Fayre Café
Lunch drop in at Kings
Westcroft
Parent and tots stay and play
Wednesdays over 60s Club
Conniburrow
Great Linford Youth Service
Great Linford Community Café
St Marys
Saplings Childrens Centre
Tinkers Bridge
Beanhill Community Fridge
Tinkers Community Café
MK Swan Rescue
Coffee Hall
Woughton Community Café
Woughton Youth Services
“Without the support of Food Connect, the Great Linford Community Fridge would not be able to operate”
CllrDonnaNicholls
GreatLinfordParishCouncil June2024
“Collaboration is key. By working together, we can understand where there is need and the challenges. We all benefit from our collective skills, connections and experience and this enables us to help even more people and organisations.”
HelInnes FoodConnect/Hubbub
December2023
Local impact in Milton Keynes
Since 2020, Food Connect in Milton Keynes has been able to:
• Collect over 1375 tonnes of food
• Equivalent of over three million meals
• Support 184,000 visits to a community fridge
• Cover 95,000 miles in an electric van and cargo bikes
• Save over 21 tonnes greenhouse gases (GHGs) relating to transport*
• Employ nine flexible, Living Wage, green, part-time jobs
• Collect 3-5 tonnes every week
• Meet 14% increase in demand in 2024
• Increase food collections by 30%
*FiguresfromDepartmentforTransport 2023 based on a diesel van producing228ggreenhousegases per mile
“I used to be a volunteer and am now a part-time courier collecting food from shops across Milton Keynes for our community fridges in an electric van. I get first-hand experience seeing the positive impact the scheme has.”
LynetteDaniels
FoodConnectCourier December2023
Deeper impact
For many, access to free food is crucial in difficult times and we have seen food insecurity and demand on community fridges soar in the UK since the Covid pandemic and subsequent cost of living crisis.
While Hubbub’s primary objective in setting up the Community Fridge Network was to reduce food waste and make the most of all our resources, community fridges have become essential sources of food for thousandsof people. However, free food is not a long -term solution to food insecurity and we call on the government to ensure that everyone has the income required to cover all their needs with dignity.
“Food Connect provides at least 50% of the food that we provide for clients who are in need and often vulnerable. We could not provide our services without the Food Connect deliveries. We have people queue up for the food for up to four hours and often have people turn up who are crying out for help”
LeighaBritnell ConniburrowCommunityFridge, July2024
Food Connect supports
supports more than food redistribution community fridges. It helps initiatives such as:
Albrighton Community Fridge supports the local The Seventh Day Adventists group with culturally appropriate food.
Old Bath House and Community Centre that deliver a ‘Cookalong’ program that teach basic cooking skills and share mealtimes that encourage healthier diets, cooking on a budget and getting to know one another for groups of +55 men, parents and their children.
Conniburrow Community Centre and Tinkers Bridge Residents Association that run community cafes providing free hot food for their guests as well as a safe, warm place to eat, meet and access other vital services within their community.
Woughton Youth Service who engage and support hundreds of local young people including providing access to regular food every week.
Oasis Waterloo Breakfast Club that provides a healthy start to the day for local families as well as advice, counselling and wellbeing sessions.
As a single person household with Universal Credit of £320 per month, decent food was not affordable for all meals. Thanks to Food Connect I had access to really good food, helping me get through to the sunnier uplands of being a pensioner. Times are a lot better now, bless you!”
Communityfridgevolunteer and visitor December 2023
“A huge THANK YOU for all the help and support you have given us at Kings Community Centre. We have been able to meet so many vulnerable people’s food needs!”
SamForbes
KingsCommunityCentre andFoodbank May2024
“Food Connect play a hugely positive role in many of our community activities. Without them we wouldn’t have the resources to source this food ourselves, which would have a negative impact on the service we provide to our community.”
SeanPerry
WoughtonCommunityCouncil August2024
What’s next for Food Connect?
We are working with our partners to support local ownership, long-term sustainability and open sourcing the Food Connect model so that other communities can benefit. We welcome conversations from prospective local partners and funders that would like to help sustain and extend this service.
Thank you to
Our current funders: Starbucks, Southwark Borough Council, MK Community Foundation, David Lock Associates, local supporters and fundraisers.
All food partners that have shared surplus food in continued efforts to reduce their food waste.
Old Bath House Community Centre, Albrighton Community Centre, Oasis Waterloo Hub and Sustainable Merton for hosting and running the service.
Milton Keynes: Sian, Ritchie, Mark, Nathan, Steve, Lynette, Adam and Elliot
Albrighton: Jackie, Steve, James, Cliff, Jessica, Dennis, Aggie, Sarah and Maria.
Oasis: Di, Graeme, Daniele, Suvia, Michelle, Tessa, Michael, Luke, David, Eli and Annie
Merton: Siobhan, Vinnie, Yasmin, Saeeda, Matthew, Phil, Craig and Jude.
Our teams that work tirelessly to make Food Connect a success.
They are our true food waste warriors!