Fridge feeds community
The heir to the throne has opened a brand new food waste tackling facility for the community.
The Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles, opened the Community Fridge Network’s 100th fridge at Dumfries House last week – and it’s hoped the fridge will help end food waste in the community.
The Network, which is run by environmental charity Hubbub, supports community fridges across the UK – aiming to share good food from local businesses and individuals that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Many of the fr i d g e s have provided a lifeline to communities during the pandemic and the Prince’s Foundation, whose headquarters is at Dumfries House, have set up the fridge to benefit residents around Auchinleck and Cumnock.
It is located across from the Coach House Cafe and will be open from 4pm - 6pm daily.
Cafe manager, Julie McCluskie, will be in charge and she said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything The Prince’s Foundation does so we are delighted to officially open the 100th community fridge.
“Supporting the local community has always been a huge part of the Dumfries House ethos and we hope that the opening of this fridge will not only be of benefit to local residents – but will also strengthen our commitment to reducing food waste.”
Run by local volunteers, the fridges also provide a positive social space for local residents to learn more about food, sustainable eating, growing your own and eating on a budget.
Regular collections of surplus food from local retailers will be organised and food will be donated from the Coach House Cafe, Kauffman Education Gardens and The Belling Hospitality Training Centre.
Thousands of school children visit Dumfries House every year to take part in hands- on food, farming and horticulture workshops run by the Foundation which highlight the provenance of food and importance of sustainable practices. Those managing the fridge plan to run similar sessions for locals on how to grow your own fruit and veg, as well as cooking workshops and health and wellbeing sessions.
Kanahaya Alam, Community Fridge Network Manager at Hubbub, said: “We’re thrilled that HRH The Prince of Wales has officially opened a Community Fridge on Dumfries House estate.
“We’ve seen these projects s t rengthen and enri c h communities across the country in community centres, schools, universities and now a country estate. Community fridges are not only tackling food waste but are providing a crucial service at what is a really difficult time for many. We’d love to see more people volunteer for their local fridge, more retailers donate food and more businesses provide sponsorship.”
Food waste remains a major issue in the UK – with £ 13 billion of edible food thrown away from our homes every year and a further £ 3 billion of food wasted by the hospitality and food service sector. With the opening of the 100th community fridge, the network is redistributing an average of 975 tonnes of food surplus per year, the equivalent of approximately 1.9 million meals.
Neil Ritch, Scotland Director at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It’s remarkable that thanks to National Lottery funding, the Community Fridge Network is providing almost two million meals a year from food that would have otherwise gone to waste, as well as bringing people together so they can learn more about making the most of the food we have.
“The pandemic has seen the Network supporting some of the most vulnerable people and families and National Lottery players can be proud that the money they have raised is funding this vital work in an exceptionally difficult time.”
The first community fridge was opened in 2016 in Derbyshire and the idea has been rolled out in communities across the UK.
Unlike food banks, the fridges are available for anyone to use and have given residents an opportunity to try new foods, share recipes and cook together.