The average UK household wastes £730 a year by throwing away food and drink which could have been eaten. In addition, £3 billion is wasted by the food sector. Despite growing awareness of food waste, there are few easy ways for people or businesses to get food near its ‘use by’ date to others.
Community fridges provide business and individuals with the opportunity to share food that otherwise would have been wasted. They are public places where surplus food is shared between people in a community. Anybody can access the community fridge, there is no need to register, simply turn up during opening hours and make use of the facility and help good food from going to waste.
So far across the UK, Community Fridges have helped thousands of people connect within their communities, access nutritious food, save money and reduce waste. In Norfolk we have got the largest Community Fridge Network outside of London. To find your local community fridge, see the map below.
Find Your Local Community Fridge
Here in Norfolk we are proud that we have several Community Fridges* with more planned.
*Some Community Fridges may have different opening hours over bank holidays. Please check with your local fridge before visiting.
What can I do?
You can get involved by:
- Spreading the word! Tell your friends and family who may also be interested in saving food and money.
- Visiting and supporting your local Community Fridge – check-out what free food it has to offer.
- If you are a local business or grower of vegetables, donate surplus food that you’re not going to use to your local Community Fridge.
- Liking, following and sharing your local Community Fridge on Social Media:
- Aylsham Community Fridge
- Dereham Community Fridge
- Dussindale Community Fridge
- Earlham Community Fridge
- Fakenham Community Fridge
- Gorleston MESH Community Fridge
- Holt (The Treehouse) Community Fridge
- Hunstanton Community Fridge
- North Walsham Community Fridge
- Norwich (The Feed) Community Fridge
- Norwich (Silver Road) Community Fridge
- Sheringham Community Fridge
- South Lynn Community Fridge
- Stalham Community Fridge (due to open 10 July 2021)
- Swaffham Community Fridge
- Thetford (Abbey Community Centre) Community Fridge
- Thetford (Charles Burrell Centre) Community Fridge
- Watton Community Fridge
- Wymondham Community Fridge and Kitchen
Setting up a Community Fridge
Want to see a Community Fridge in your local area? Hubbub have created a ‘How To’ guide and template materials to take you through, step by step, the stages for setting up a new Community Fridge.
They’ve also created the Community Fridge Network to connect all of the Community Fridge projects across the UK and IE, so you can exchange advice and support.