Otley Community Larder

Aim

To help our community thrive by intercepting food that would otherwise have been wasted and making it available for people in our Larder.

The aim of the Otley Community Larder is to reduce food waste by collecting surplus food from local retailers and distributing it free of charge to the local community. Our ambition is to help reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfill and to encourage the wider community to play their role in reducing food waste.

Volunteers will collect surplus food from supermarkets, local producers and food shops to bring back to the larder. Collection points are expected to be in Otley, Yeadon, Menston and Rawdon. 

Anyone can visit the larder to collect food, not just those who are in food poverty although we will try to prioritise those who need it most. 

Why are we doing this?

• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in response to the climate emergency - Approximately 8-10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions relate to food waste!
• To reduce food poverty in our community, with a particular focus on increasing access to fresh food in a area of the town where there is very limited availability - The number of UK children in food poverty has nearly doubled in the last year to almost 4 million.
• To bring people together in a joint enterprise to improve health and well being in our community, and strengthen community links across the whole town
• To provide opportunities for employment and volunteering
• To put the principles of Doughnut Economics into practice for the benefit of our community

How will we use the money we raise?

We are very fortunate to have been given room to use for free, but it does require significant renovation and we will have to contribute towards utility bills. Money raised will go towards the following:

• Renovation of the space
• Utility bills
• Buying a fridge and freezer
• Shelving units and storage boxes
• Food safety, hygiene, and First Aid training
• Promotional materials

This project successfully funded on 4th September 2023