A POWYS primary school is helping in the fight against food waste by introducing a community fridge – enabling local residents and businesses to share surplus food and allow anyone to help themselves to quality food that would otherwise be wasted.

Ysgol Trefonnen launched Llandrindod Wells’ first ever community fridge last week with the support of environmental charity Hubbub UK. It is one of 100 new community fridges that will be opened over the next year across the UK, which are expected to save 6.8 million meals per year from going to waste.

The fridge will be open at the school on Mondays and Wednesdays initially. As well as improving access to food, the fridges also empower communities to connect with each other and learn new skills through activities such as cookery sessions and workshops on how to grow your own fruit and veg.

The school will welcome donations of unopened, packaged foods within their use by date and raw fruit or vegetables, which will then be available to anyone in the community to take.

As well as reducing food waste, the group will use the fridge to strengthen community bonds and Ysgol Trefonnen is now calling on all local food businesses and allotment holders in Llandrindod to donate surplus food.

Food waste is a huge issue in the UK. The average household throws away £700 worth of food every year and at the same time 4 million people in the UK are living in food poverty. Most food waste is avoidable and could have been eaten had it been better managed.

Jen Craven, the school’s family engagement officer, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people turn out at the launch of the community fridge.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to use it and help reduce food waste. Tea, coffee and cake is also available, making it a social atmosphere as well where people can chat, exchange recipes and ideas.”

The fridge concept is one of a growing number opening up across the UK. The idea first arrived in the UK in 2016 with community fridges opening up in Swadlincote, Frome and London. Now, over 50 projects are running across the country.

Some of the challenges faced to-date are around the legal requirements and food hygiene. The world’s first Community Fridge Network has been set up by environmental charity Hubbub to provide free advice and support to community fridge organisers and act as a hub to enable communities to share their experiences and learn from each other.

To find out more about the Llandrindod Wells community fridge, to donate or volunteer, contact Jen Craven via email on jcraven@trefonnen.powys.sch.uk or call 01597 822190.

More information on the Community Fridge Network, including a map of fridge locations and advice for those interested in setting up a community fridge, can be found at www.hubbub.org.uk/communityfridgenetwork.

Pictured (l-r) is volunteer Sophie Harper, community fridge coordinator and family engagement officer for Ysgol Trefonnen Jen Craven and volunteer and early years leader Katie Carter.