VOLUNTEERS at Rowbarton Local Pantry, based at Taunton's Rowbarton Methodist Church, have celebrated its first year of operation.

RLP was the first of four district pantry schemes piloted by Somerset West and Taunton Council to mitigate food insecurity, while reducing food waste and associated CO2 emissions.

The scheme seeks to prevent huge volumes of excess food going to waste by redistributing it at an affordable price to local families.

The model has been successfully adopted in other areas of the UK and is a sustainable and long-term solution, particularly helping lower income households struggling to put meals on the table.

RLP is run by community volunteers and over the past year has saved and redistributed more than 6,000kg of food, initially to 23 families in the north Taunton area, which has now grown to 40 households.

Volunteer staff work in partnership with food charity FareShare South West, local retailers and allotment groups to gather good, surplus food for redistribution to members at low cost.

For £3.50 a week, registered households benefit from between 10 and 15 food items worth £15 to £20. In addition to shelf-stable food, items include fresh produce such as cheese, milk, fruit and vegetables.

The RLP team offers advice for budgeting, meal planning and cookery classes, as well as occasional activities to connect with members and improve health and well-being.

To mark the first anniversary, the team has gathered recipes from members and volunteers to publish a recipe book to give to members.

Angela Bolitho, SWT engagement lead for North Taunton, said: “The local community has benefitted greatly from Rowbarton Local Pantry and we’re pleased to be in regular communication with the team leader, Gillian Flick and Rowbarton Church, promoting it to professionals who work in the area with residents and sharing news of local events and opportunities that might be of interest to the members."

Two further pantries are due to launch in the district soon. The first will be in Minehead run by West Somerset Food Cupboard - to join or volunteer, contact Ali Sanderson via foodcupboardws@outlook.com.

Local pantry project manager Helen Phillips will be managing a pantry in Wellington, to be known as the ‘Best Before Food Store’. For volunteering opportunities email wellingtonpantry@gmail.com.

Start-up funding and support is still available for groups interested in setting up a pantry in their local area. For enquiries, contact Helen Phillips via thelocalpantry@somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk.

The Local Pantry model differs from food banks in the following several important ways:

  • It isn’t means tested, which not only reduces the stigma attached to receiving low cost food, but it also means those who are just above the threshold, but are still struggling, can benefit.
  • As well as ambient food (tinned) it offers fresh food such as meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables
  • It will be run by the local community.
  • It offers a long-term solution; normally six-months to one year, enabling households to plan, particularly their money.
  • It is a membership scheme, so requires a commitment on both sides.
  • It uses good food that would otherwise go to waste and therefore reduces food waste and supports our climate change commitment.