Volunteers are collecting leftover food from stallholders at Stroud Farmers' Market and giving it to Community Food Hubs in Stroud, Chalford, Brimscombe, Cashes Green, Rodborough and more.

The initiative also invites shoppers to buy an extra product from stallholders and take it to the collection basket in 4 Seasons Market, Threadneedle Street, less than a minute’s walk from the market.

Volunteers organised by local community hubs and the charity Earth Protector Communities will then go around the stalls after the market and collect any leftovers have not been sold.

Kardien Gerbrand, who runs the farmer market, said: “I wholeheartedly support what you are doing whilst at the same time feeling a little sad that as a society we are in a situation where there are so many in need of food aid whilst a very small number of people are getting increasingly wealthy.”

In the UK, food banks gave out 2,600 parcels to children every day on average in the first six months of the pandemic in the UK, according to the Trussell Trust.

“We are immensely grateful to Gerb who runs the market for supporting this scheme and to Amrit and Isha at the 4 Seasons Market on Threadneedle Street who host the collection basket where the shoppers deposit their donations,” said Nathan Roe of Middle of the Hill Community Group, which runs the Community Room food Hub at Noucells Cross.

“Amrit and Isha are also valued supporters of the scheme and have generously donated surplus fruit and vegetables themselves. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Farmers' Market stallholders, some of whom donate produce at the end of the market to boost the food that we are able to share with our neighbours who may be experiencing food inequality”.

Fran Mosely from the Trinity Rooms Community Hub explained customers can buy extra items in a similar way to Foodbank donations in supermarkets, but this also supports local producers at a difficult time.

Food is available from the hubs on a pay as you feel basis, meaning some people donate more than the value of the goods they take while others pay less or nothing at all.

Everyone is welcome at the food hubs, you don't need a voucher and no one will ask questions about your situation.

They can be found in Cashes Green Community Centre, Chalford Parish Centre, Middle of the Hill at The Community Room in Nouncells Cross, Rodborough Parish Church, The Long Table in Brimscombe, The Octagon Centre in Paganhill, Top of Town at Mason Rd Playing Field and Trinity Rooms in Field Road, Stroud.

Project volunteer Josie Cowgill said: “We are grateful to the stall holders and customers who donate so generously and to all the people that use the hubs whatever their circumstances. The hubs bring us together as a community, reduce food inequality and food waste, and support the local economy”.

Anyone who wishes to access a food hub or volunteer for this scheme can do so by contacting the addresses below.

  1. Cashes Green Community Centre, 1-3 Queen’s Drive GL5 4NR  [hello@cashesgreen.org.uk]
  2. Chalford Parish Centre, 50 Gerald’s Way GL6 8FJ [01453 887204]
  3. Middle of the Hill, The Community Room, Nouncells Cross, Bisley Old Road GL5 1PU [07707 126628]
  4. Rodborough Parish Church, Walkley Hill GL5 3TX [07976 423120]
  5. The Long Table, Unit 1, Brimscombe Port GL5 2QQ   [hello@thelongtableonline.com]
  6. The Octagon Centre, Paganhill GL5 4BX [07828 168857]
  7. Top of Town, Mason Rd Playing Field, Bisley Old Road GL5 1NL     [tel Emily Osler/Laurie Davies 07763 567400 / 07846 203154]
  8. Trinity Rooms, Field Roa, Stroud, GL5 2HZ [josie@stroudtrinityrooms.org]