COMMUNITY FRIDGE NETWORK R E P O R T:
NOVEMBER
2017 – JANUARY
2018
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BACKGROUND The Community Fridge Network was set up by Hubbub in 2017 with funding from The Big Lottery to provide a free support service for any group setting up or running a Community Fridge. It aims to make it easier for new projects to become established, and to help the concept flourish across the UK and beyond. Members of the CFN: • Are legally registered and have public liability insurance. •
Register their fridge as a Food Business and receive a hygiene rating.
•
Risk assess and demonstrate that their health and safety procedures have the approval of their local Environmental Health Officer.
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Agree to capture and report back on impact every 3 months, using the simple measurement framework provided by Hubbub.
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MEMBERS The Community Fridge, Edventure Frome Cloughmills Community Fridge Redmond Community Fridge St Lukes Community Fridge Milton Keynes Community Fridge Camberwell Community Fridge Cambridge Community Fridge Botley Community Fridge West Raven Big Local Community Fridge Fridge for all, Shildon Alive Wayland Community Fridge Cotessey Community Fridge Fishguard & Goodwick Community Fridge Hertfordshire University Community Fridge Sheffield University Community Fridge Narbeth Community Fridge Sholver Community Fridge Dorking Community Fridge Fakenham Community Fridge MESH Community Fridge Broadland’s Thorpe St Andrew Community Fridge Thetford Community Fridge Swaffham Community Fridge Failsworth Community Fridge City College Peterborough Community Fridge Heartease Community Fridges Dussingdale Community Fridge Downhamd Community Fridge Consett Community Fridge Yaxley Community Fridge Brighton & Hove Community Fridge
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FOOD RE-DISTRIBUTION The total amount of food surplus redistributed across the CFN between November and January is 21,521kg (based on data submitted to Hubbub from 15 community groups). The average amount re-distributed per project is 525kg per month. The vast majority (94%) is from food businesses. •
6,579kg re-distributed across 12 projects in November (Average 548kg).
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7201kg re-distributed across 13 projects in December (Average 554kg).
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7742kg re-distributed across 15 projects in January (Average 516kg). The average number of visits to the Community Fridge per month is 137 (based on data from 7 projects).
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FOOD RE-DISTRIBUTION Nov: Data totals from 12 projects Dec: Data totals from 13 projects Jan: Data totals from 15 projects FOOD IN (Individual/ domestic donations) FOOD IN (Business donations) TOTAL IN TOTAL OUT
9000
8000
7000
6000
FOOD WASTE (i.e compost, bin) 5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0 Nov-17
Dec-17
Jan-18
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R E TA I L D O N O R S
Retailers supporting Community Fridges include: •
Sainsbury’s
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Morrison’s
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Tesco via Fareshare
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Waitrose
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The Coop
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Marks and Spencer
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Nandos
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Brindisa
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Lidl
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Spar
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Riverford Organic
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& multiple local food businesses
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C O M M U N I T Y I M PA C T S ‘I'm so happy to be able to have fresh and good food for free. I am a single mum and this definitely helping me loads to cook and provide for my family’ Redmond Community Fridge
‘Such a lovely warm, friendly community atmosphere around the fridge and its activities.’ Milton Keynes Community Fridge
‘Such a great idea to help people and save food waste! Well done!’ Dorking Community Fridge
‘Even though I’m working I had large bills to pay, so it helped me feed myself this month.’ Swadlincote Community Fridge
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C O M M U N I T Y I M PA C T S “'Without this wonderful service, me and my children would never eat fresh fruit and veg. I am a single mum with no recourse to any public funds. I am also able to have many other chats here. All the staff are welcoming and make me feel they care. Thank you everyone'. Camberwell Community Fridge
‘I love the social side, the staff are all friendly and the people that come here make you feel at home.’ Camberwell Community Fridge
‘Fantastic community project, support that money can't buy.’ Shildon Community Fridge
‘‘Got food, fresh food, eggs and bread. I am skint, still waiting for benefits. It is a life saver and it makes you feel good'. St Lukes Community Fridge
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FRIDGE STORIES
Fishguard and Goodwick Community Fridge it the first of its kind in Wales. In early February the fridge opened in its new permanent home in a purpose-built shed beside Abergwaun Gateway Club, having been relocated from Transition Fishguard’s Cafe. Over 3 months they redistributed 1131kg of food, estimating a carbon saving of 2.78 tonnes. Read all about their fridge in the latest edition of ‘’Jwrnal’’, which champions interesting people, projects and places around Wales: https://jwrnal.com/community-fridge
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FRIDGE STORIES
The University of Hertfordshire Community Fridge launched at the end of January. It is the second fridge to open in a University setting.
Share boxes have been installed around campus to further encourage sharing and swapping surplus food. The launch event was complete with smoothie bike and recipe sharing – with info on how to cook nutritious food on shoestring budgets. In the first 2 weeks 221.4kg of food surplus was redistributed. Read about the launch of the Hertfordshire Community Fridge here.
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FRIDGE STORIES
Dorking Community Fridge was set up, inspired by Jamie Oliver’s Friday Night Feast. It’s home is in the Cafe at The Dorking Christian Centre. Since launching they have redistributed 3.5 tonnes of surplus food, receiving donations from Fareshare and Waitrose. They have even recently helped Gatwick to redistribute airline meals. They have 16 volunteers who help maintain the fridge on a regular basis. Find out more on their Facebook page.
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FRIDGE STORIES
Peterborough Environment City Trust are supporting the set up three Community Fridges in the area.
The Fridges are filled by a food waste community interest group ‘Food for Nought’, which delivers food surplus to multiple charitable projects across Peterborough. The fridges have redistributed food from Tesco, Sainsburys and Riverford. They have left a Pay As You Feel collection tin, so people can make a contribution to the food if they want to.
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MEDIA COVERAGE
A summary of Community Fridge Network coverage can be found here: https://releasd.com/80d8
Highlights: • Jamie Oliver •
The One Show
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Time Out
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BBC (TV, radio & online)
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Huffington Post
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Yahoo News
FIND OUT MORE COMMUNITYFRIDGE@HUBBUB.ORG.UK ELLE@HUBBUB.ORG.UK TESSA@HUBBUB.ORG.UK @HUBBUBUK