A new Community Fridge opened to all in Malvern recently with thanks to Platform Housing Groups Community Chest, the world’s largest Community Fridge Network Hubbub and Co-op.
The Fridge was opened by St Mary’s Church, Pickersleigh with support from the environmental charity Hubbub and £1,000 of funding from Platform Housing Groups Community Chest. The Community Chest is an initiative formed by Platform Housing Group to bring about positive changes for Platform communities, enabling charities, clubs and other not-for-profit organisations to apply for funding to help with digital inclusion, health and wellbeing, skills and employability, community cohesion and community safety.
The Community Fridge is located at St Mary’s Church, Sherrards Green Road, and is open on Thursday and Friday mornings 9am to 12 midday and is open to everyone in the community without any need to be referred or having to prove eligibility and enables residents to access fresh food that would have otherwise gone to waste. The surplus food is donated by Co-op from its stores.
St Mary’s who run the fridge, welcome donations of unopened, packaged foods within their use by date and raw fruit and vegetables, which is then made available to anyone in the community to take. As well as reducing food waste and improving access to food, St Mary’s use the Fridge to strengthen community bonds and empower communities by creating a hub to share skills, cooking classes, community meals and more.
Applications for funding from the Community Chest are assessed and allocated with help from Platforms Customer Experience Panel and to date almost £37,000 has seen benefits for 25 community groups and organisations, helping local people improve and enhance their areas and provide much needed help and equipment that has seen a positive impact on their lives.
If you are a charity, club and other not- for-profit organisation and think the Community Chest could help, visit Platform Housing Groups website and complete the application form.
