VCSE Value Forum - The Great North - Book your free place
Valleys to Coast: Bridgend Bridgend Community Food Pantry & Growth Hub
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project addresses regional food poverty by launching community food pantries across Bridgend estates. Operating on a low-cost membership model, residents can access fresh produce, pantry staples, and household essentials. Beyond food distribution, the pantries act as growth hubs offering budget-friendly cooking tips and signposting to financial advice teams. We aim to reduce the stigma of food insecurity and promote sustainable community health.

Beneficiaries

  • People in poverty

    Low-income individuals, single parents, and families living on social housing estates across Bridgend. These households are facing severe financial hardship, food insecurity, and the rising cost of living, leaving them vulnerable to hunger.

  • Number of beneficiaries - 300

    Families registered as active food pantry member households.

Geographic reach

  • Wales: Bridgend

    Targeted social housing estates and urban town centres within Bridgend County Borough, South Wales, focusing on areas with high concentrations of low-income or vulnerable tenants.

BENEFICIARIES REACHED ANNUALLY

150

Active households supported weekly with low-cost groceries.

SIZE OF PROJECT PER ANNUM

£12,000.00

TIMELINE

May 2026 Onwards

Project Outcome Targets

Provide 150+ low-income Bridgend households with regular access to high-quality, affordable food options.

Divert at least 5 tonnes of surplus commercial food from local landfills to reduce regional environmental waste.

Improve health outcomes by ensuring 100% of member families have access to fresh fruit and vegetables weekly.

Project Activities

  • Secure town-centre or estate hub premises and fit them with commercial chillers and ambient storage racking.

  • Build supply partnerships with supermarkets and food redistribution charities to collect surplus stock.

  • Launch a low-cost community membership model to allow dignified, affordable access to weekly groceries.

  • Recruit and train local volunteers to manage inventory, pack food parcels, and run daily hub operations.

  • Host advice sessions at the pantry to signpost members to broader V2C financial and housing support teams.

Resources Needed For The Project

Resource Description Quantity needed When needed How this donation supports the project (Enabling Actions or KPIs)
PRODUCTS High-capacity commercial chiller to safely store surplus fresh produce, dairy, and chilled food items. 2 Flexible Ensures food safety compliance, minimises fresh food waste, and allows the hub to stock nutritional perishable goods.
Project Impact and Partners
IMPACT REPORTING

Bi-annually

March 2021

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
UN SDG 2: Zero Hunger UN SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being UN SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
How we monitor the quality and results of our work

Tracking food weight data on digital spreadsheets and evaluating member satisfaction via quarterly tenant surveys.

WHO IS ALREADY FUNDING THE PROJECT?

Valleys to Coast (V2C Community Infrastructure Fund)

Co-funding the project through internal core budgets to cover estate venue costs, staff time, and baseline utilities.
OTHER PARTNERS

Fareshare Cymru

Regional surplus food redistribution partner providing the pantry with weekly ambient and chilled food stock supplies.