Helston Climate Action Group call for volunteers for community larder

The project is being run by Katharine Lewis from Helston Climate Action Group and community volunteer Cheryl Richardson, and will be based at the Helston Family Hub on Bulwark Road.

The project will help to reduce carbon emissions and give local people access to good nutritious food that would otherwise be thrown away.

Dates and times are yet to be confirmed, but the group hopes that the larder will be able to run twice a week.

The community larder is the latest project in the Helston Climate Action Plan, which aims to help Helston work towards being carbon neutral by 2030, through reducing carbon emissions, restoring nature and building community resilience.

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Katharine Lewis, Climate Emergency Outreach Officer, said: "I am so pleased that Helston is joining other towns in hosting a community larder.

"This is a really good way of tackling food waste locally, distributing food from supermarkets and other local businesses that is perfectly good to eat, but would otherwise be thrown away.

"This is so unnecessary, especially when so many families are having to rely on food banks to put food on the table.

The project is being run by Katharine Lewis from Helston Climate Action Group and community volunteer Cheryl Richardson, and will be based at the Helston Family Hub on Bulwark Road.

"Some of the changes we need to make to address the climate emergency are out of reach of many people.

"But this is something we can all do, and it will help address food poverty too.

"The larder will be open to anyone. Please come and help us tackle food waste together!"

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Cheryl Richardson said: "Over the years there is so much waste from supermarkets and I see people struggling with feeding their families, having to chose between rent, bills or the parents having to miss meals.

"So why not put it to great use, help people to try and get back on their feet."

The project has received start-up funding from Cornwall Council, which has been used to buy essential equipment.

Equipment and guidance have also been supplied by Treverbyn Community Trust and handmade cloth masks for volunteers have been donated by Cornwall Cloth Masks.

Food production account for 30% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, and yet a third of all food goes uneaten.

Wasting food generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all the commercial flights in the world.

In the UK an incredible 9.5 million tonnes of food gets wasted each year, 70% of which could have been eaten – this is the equivalent of 15 billion meals.

There are various volunteer roles available, including collecting food from local supermarkets and businesses, and helping run the larder on the day.

The team are also keen to hear from local supermarkets and businesses that would like to support the community larder by donating food that would otherwise be wasted.

If anyone would like to get involved in the project, please get in touch with Katharine and Cheryl via email: helstoncommunitylarder@gmail.com.