It's the end of an era...
Transition Stirling announces the forthcoming closure of its Community Food Project, with the final food collection scheduled for 7th December and the Wellgreen site closing by the end of the year; invites those interested in taking on and expanding the service to get in touch.
Since its inception in March 2020, the Community Food Project, a collaboration run by charity Transition Stirling, has been proud to help reduce food waste and support local residents by redistributing surplus food from partners such as Neighbourly, Foodiverse and Fareshare. These collaborations have enabled the collection and distribution of surplus food from local supermarkets, including Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, Bookers, and KFC. As well as providing stock for a low-cost pantry through Fareshare. "Together, over the last 4 years, we have diverted 435 tonnes (in weight) of good, edible food from waste processing, saving over 1400 tonnes of CO2e through this work.” said Peter Singleton, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Transition Stirling.
As an environmental charity, the mission of Transition Stirling is to create positive environmental change while uplifting communities. The aim is to achieve this by promoting sustainable practices that protect the planet, reduce waste, and improve quality of life, bringing people together to create a better future for everyone.
The increasing demand for essential food services has highlighted the need for an organisation with specific expertise in food distribution to effectively manage and expand this vital service.
Despite the dedication of the Transition team and volunteers, the charity has been unable to secure the long-term funding, capacity and the specialised resources necessary to sustain the project at its current level of demand.
Transition Stirling is seeking collaboration with local groups, to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure that surplus food continues to reach those in need. Neighbourly and Foodiverse specialise in connecting businesses with surplus food to local charities and community groups and we are confident that they will continue to support the community during this transition. Any groups interested in running this or a similar service are encouraged to get in touch.
Mr Singleton added: "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers, partners and community members who have supported the Community Food Project over the years. Your dedication, commitment and generosity have been instrumental in its success and made a real difference to so many in the community.
"Thank you to the funders who made this work possible: the National Lottery, Stirling Council, Impact Funders, Zero Waste Scotland, People and Places, The Electrical Safety Fund, and Erasmus.
"We invite those interested in taking on and expanding this service to contact us."
For further enquiries, please contact the team at cfp@transitionstirling.org.uk. We appreciate your understanding and support during this time.
About Neighbourly
Neighbourly is a community investment and giving platform that connects businesses with local charities and community organisations to facilitate surplus food and product redistribution, volunteer time, and financial donations. Their mission is to make a positive impact in communities by reducing waste and supporting those in need. Learn more at www.neighbourly.com.
About Foodiverse
Foodiverse is an online platform that connects charities and community organisations with surplus food offers from local businesses. The platform aims to reduce food waste and alleviate food insecurity by facilitating the efficient redistribution of surplus food. Learn more at www.foodiverse.net.
About Fareshare
Fareshare is plays a significant role on redistributing surplus food to frontline charities and community groups across the UK. By working with food suppliers and local organisations, Fareshare helps ensure that good quality surplus food reaches those who need it most, reducing both food waste and food insecurity. Learn more at fareshare.org.uk/getting-food/.