Rutland Community Fridge is expanding this month following a successful drive for volunteers at a new evening fridge.

Rutland Community Fridge is run by Root-and-Branch Out, a local food and education charity working towards supporting residents and young people across Rutland.

The project sees volunteers collect food waste from local shops, bakeries and businesses for the local community to collect on a pay-as-you-feel basis.

On top of the Community Fridges in Oakham and Uppingham, throughout the winter months the team run a Souper Space - serving a hearty meal of soup made by volunteers with waste ingredients - from Uppingham Town Hall on Fridays from 1pm.

All are welcome at these events, which are not only for those on the hunt for affordable food-shop alternatives, but aimed at reducing food waste.

A new Community Fridge will be opening in Rutland on 27 March. Image credit: Rutland Community Fridge.

With their current community fridges taking place during the day, following a public survery, the team found that there was a growing demand for an evening community fridge that 9-5 workers could attend.

The new evening fridge will be held on Wednesdays in Oakham's Victoria Hall on Wednesday evenings, and will launch on Wednesday 27 March 2024 from 5:30pm.

The Community Fridge team shared the news on social media: "The Rutland Community Fridge at Victoria Hall will be OPEN on Wednesday, 27th March!

"Open Wednesdays 5.30pm - 7pm, so that those working in the day can access their Community Fridge. Helping to save good surplus food from landfill. The Fridge is open to everyone, and food is free.

"We look forward to seeing you there!"

For more information visit the Root-and-Branch Out website.

The team added: "Thanks to the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund (CCLF) Government funding, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, has helped us expand the Rutland Community Fridges project."

Rutland Community Fridge supplies food to those in need and helps prevent food waste. Image credit: Rutland Community Fridge.

Residents can continue to use the Oakham Community Fridge, which runs from Oakham Station on a Friday from 10 - 11:30am, and the Uppingham Fridge, which can be found at Uppingham Town Hall from 1:30 - 3pm every Friday.

Find out more, including how to support the scheme, on the Community Fridges Facebook page.