Official Opening of the Stornoway North Community Fridge

03 November 2022 at 14:17:30

The launch of the first Community fridge on the Western Isles took place yesterday (Wednesday 2nd November) located in the Taigh Ceilidh adjacent to the Cearns shop.

A Community Fridge is a space where surplus food is shared for free, bringing people together to eat, connect, learn new skills and reduce food waste. They are usually stocked by local businesses sharing food that wouldn't otherwise be sold in time, fresh produce from local gardeners, and food gifted from households. Supporting the Stornoway North Community fridge are local businesses Blackhouse bakery and both Co-op stores.

Community Fridges are independent community assets, set up, owned and managed by not-for-profit and community-led organizations. Each fridge is unique to its location and the community and volunteers who run it.

Environmental charity, Hubbub  , coordinates a growing network of Community Fridges across the UK. The charity supports each fridge with health and safety, design assets and access to discounted fridges and freezers. A recent partnership with Co-op has funded 350 more fridges with the aim of expanding the network over 500 in total by the end of 2022. The Community Fridge based in the Cearns Taigh Ceilidh is the first for the Western Isles. And whilst it is about reducing food waste the volunteers supported by CLD (Cnes) and the Stornoway North Community Development worker have amalgamated the food bank located in the Cearns and supported by the Eilean Siar food bank into the Taigh Ceilidh to run alongside the community fridge, in addition to this a clothing bank and baby essentials are available. Whilst visiting the Community fridge you will be able to take advantage of the warm safe space that is provided along with free Wi-fi and laptop access along with free tea, coffee, soup and rolls.

Open every Wednesday and Friday 11am-1.30pm