Community Fridge
Higher Blackley’s Community Fridge is open to everyone!
Opening times: Tuesdays 3-4pm
If food is available at other times it will be promoted on the academy’s Facebook page.
What is a Community Fridge?
Community Fridges work on an honesty basis and are housed in accessible places, making surplus food freely available to local people. Surplus perishable food is donated by businesses or members of the public and then made available for all. They are open to everyone, regardless of means and are not a food bank, or a solution to food poverty.
Community fridges are friendly, accessible and community-led initiatives where users can share recipes and spark ideas around wider social and environmental action.
A third of all food produced for humans globally goes to waste. The average UK household can save £60 a year by avoiding food waste. Community fridges are a tried and tested way of reducing the environmental impact of food waste, which is a huge issue.
See the Fridge in action in this video!
How does it work?
Higher Blackley’s Community Fridge is housed in a standalone unit just off the academy’s main site – accessed through gate 5.
To begin with, the fridge will open on Tuesdays 3pm – 4pm. If food is available at other times, this will be promoted on the academy’s Facebook page. There is no need to register and there are no restrictions on the amount of food that can be taken from the fridge, however, visitors should only take what they need and will use.
Personal hygiene items, including sanitary products, are also available.
How to donate
There is a donation box in the main academy reception. Donations are also accepted at the fridge (when it is open).
If you are a business and would like to donate food or personal hygiene items, email manc-community-m@coopacademies.co.uk
WE CAN’T ACCEPT
× Foods without a complete list of ingredients, including all allergens
× Cooked food from your home or unregistered sources
× Unpasteurised milk
× Cooked rice
× Raw milk cheeses
× Pâtés
× Bean sprouts
× Products which could contain any of the above ingredients
× Unlabelled multiple ingredient items
× Alcohol
× Products that contain alcohol
× Energy drinks
Volunteers
Over the coming weeks we will be looking for volunteers to help us look after the fridge in the following ways:
- Collection of food from donors
- Fridge cleaning and monitoring
Full training will be given, including Level 1 Food Hygiene & Safety.