How The Huggard Supports Communities

Originally set up as Cardiff Action for the Single Homeless (CASH) in 1988, The Huggard supports people experiencing homelessness in Cardiff.

They offer emergency accommodation, advice and harm-reduction support. Moreover, it has 40 emergency beds and 47 self-contained bedsits. The Huggard also has dedicated key workers who support residents in developing life skills and independence.

The Huggard operates a commercial kitchen serving two hot meals daily. Breakfast is free, while lunch costs £2, but there is no charge for those unable to pay.

In addition, a trained chef oversees the programme, supported by clients and former clients who develop catering and hospitality skills. The charity also runs a public cafe nearby on Dumballs Road, reinvesting profits into the programme.

How FareShare Cymru Is Serving Up Opportunity

The Huggard receives two weekly deliveries from FareShare Cymru. FareShare Cymru provides approximately 300kg of food each week to support its food programme.

Service users got hands-on experience making their own pizzas in the session. This included rolling out their dough to their preferred thickness and choosing what toppings they wanted.

Each participant took on a role to support the rest of the group, including slicing red onions, tearing mozzarella and chopping chorizo.

One tip which participants learnt was that cutting onions across the grain is ideal for caramelising them slowly into a soft texture, while cutting from root to tip helps them retain more bite when sautéed.

Once the pizzas were out of the oven, participants happily shared their creations with the FareShare Cymru marketing team and Huggard staff, demonstrating a spirit of generosity and togetherness.

Be part of something meaningful today

Our partnership with The Huggard shows how surplus food can bring people together, develop practical skills and create a real sense of community. From preparing pizzas to learning knife skills, every delivery helps make moments like these possible.

By volunteering with FareShare Cymru, you can be part of this impact. Whether you’re helping in our warehouse, driving deliveries or supporting our work in other ways, your time and skills help good food go further and strengthen communities across South Wales.

Volunteer with FareShare Cymru and help us make a difference, one delivery at a time.

The post The Huggard: Empowering People With Hope and Lifelong Skills appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

Building Kitchen Confidence at Garnteg Primary School

Schoolchildren and their parents attended a session on preparing an allergen-free vegetable curry. It gave parents the chance to ask questions about food storage, reducing waste and making ingredients go further.

For some families, air fryers are an understandable kitchen staple. Others rely on family members, such as grandparents, to do the cooking. The main goal of the session was to build kitchen confidence.

Alongside the cooking activity, parents received practical advice on food safety. For example, placing a few strips of kitchen roll beneath a chopping board can prevent it from slipping and causing accidents.

Tackling Food Insecurity at Garnteg Primary School

In 2026, Garnteg Primary School partnered with Big Bocs Bwyd. This is an initiative that promotes the benefits of cooking, growing and learning about food.

First established at Cadoxton Primary School in Barry, Big Bocs Bwyd hubs often feature a Pay As You Feel shop. These are often in shipping containers. Service users can make any small donation they can and they can receive a bag of food. While Garnteg Primary School awaits these containers, they operate a shop from an adapted classroom on site.

The initiative aims to improve family wellbeing, tackle food insecurity and support better nutrition. It also encourages parental involvement and helps families build their food literacy and cooking skills.

These benefits were evident at Garnteg Primary School, where parents encouraged their children to get involved, supporting them as they took turns stirring the curry.

How FareShare Cymru Turns Surplus Food Into Healthier Futures

FareShare Cymru plays a key role in supporting Big Bocs Bwyd.

Every Friday, FareShare Cymru facilitates deliveries of surplus food to support Garnteg Primary School. This includes fresh fruit, vegetables and meat.

This helps families access nutritious ingredients while preventing good-quality food from going to waste.

By introducing children and families to fresh produce, FareShare Cymru encourages healthier eating habits. Handling and cooking food can also reduce food anxiety in young people and encourage fussy eaters to eat more foods.

We Can Build A Fairer, More Sustainable Wales

Big Bocs Bwyd programmes across Wales, supported by FareShare Cymru’s redistribution of surplus food, contribute to the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

By helping schools provide families with access to good-quality, affordable food, FareShare Cymru supports a More Equal Wales. Its redistribution of surplus food helps reduce waste and promote sustainable food practices, contributing to a Resilient Wales.

Garnteg Primary School Shows What We Can Achieve Together

Thanks to your support, FareShare Cymru is reaching more people than ever, supporting 21,000 people in 2025–26. Our aim is to educate communities about food literacy, and how to make the most of your food. Together, we can make a difference. Find out how you can get involved by volunteering with us.

The post Garnteg Primary School: Pioneering Hope Through Good Food appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

From surplus redistribution to picnics, Tremorfa Community Pantry is helping local people make the most of their food while building a stronger community.

Tremorfa Community Pantry, based at Tremorfa Community Hall in Cardiff, has been supporting the local community with low-cost food since its establishment in 2019.

Through its partnership with FareShare Cymru, Tremorfa Community Hall provides affordable food to around 60 local people every week. For a weekly £3 fee, service users are able to bring home on average £28 worth of groceries. 

Although the pantry operates from 10am to 12pm every Wednesday, people often arrive early to socialise and connect with others. This highlights its vital role in fostering community spirit and a sense of belonging.

Make Holidays Brighter Through FareShare Cymru’s Seasonal Membership

During the summer holidays, Tremorfa Community Pantry also hosted weekly afternoon picnics. These offered nutritious food and much-needed social support for just £5. The initiative provided welcome relief for families facing increased financial pressure during a time when free school meals were unavailable.

These picnics were made possible through FareShare Cymru’s additional seasonal memberships. These memberships help ease the pressure on families when free school meals are unavailable during the holidays. By providing access to nutritious food and welcoming community spaces, this initiative helps families feel supported and connected.

Want to make a difference in your community? Sign up for a seasonal or short-term membership here.

Turning Surplus into Support at Tremorfa Community Pantry

One volunteer, who has been part of Tremorfa Community Pantry since March 2026, encourages visitors to “share with a neighbour” when they have food to spare. This clear act of kindness reflects FareShare Cymru’s ethos of tackling food waste and supporting each other.

The pantry also hosts bingo and quiz nights, offering service users a valuable opportunity to forge friendships and combat isolation.

Tremorfa Community Pantry provides a wide range of groceries through FareShare Go, a free initiative with network partner Felix that enables Community Food Members to collect surplus supermarket food, including yellow-stickered items, through an app.

Through FareShare Plus, a low-cost scheme, the pantry also accesses essential personal care products, including body wash, sanitary towels and moisturiser, from the FareShare Cymru warehouse.

Feedback Friday, featured on Tremorfa Community Pantry’s Facebook, allows service users to share favourite items and showcase meals they have recently made.

We’re proud to work with members like Tremorfa Community Pantry to support communities across South Wales.

Making Good Food Go Further, Together

Fareshare Cymru’s mission is to ensure as much surplus food as possible is saved from waste. Through the hard work of volunteers, we were able to provide the equivalent of 2.9 million meals to communities across South Wales in 2025-26.

Donations are always welcome at Tremorfa Community Pantry. To find out more about FareShare Cymru and how you can become a volunteer, click here.

The post A Powerful Gift: How Tremorfa Community Pantry Nourishes Its Neighbourhood appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

At FareShare Cymru, we work to ensure that good-to-eat surplus food reaches communities rather than going to waste.

In Swansea, that food is now playing an important role at Dyfatty Junction, a new community hub at the top of High Street that has quickly become a welcoming space for local people to access support, enjoy activities and connect with their community.

Since opening in June, Dyfatty Junction has become a FareShare Cymru Community Food Member, receiving weekly deliveries of surplus food from FareShare Cymru.

Putting surplus food to good use

Every Tuesday, Dyfatty Junction receives fresh fruit and vegetables alongside packaged foods that supermarkets and other businesses no longer need.

The team at Dyfatty Junction puts the surplus food to work across a range of activities, supporting both regular events and the wider community.

They turn some of the food into meals for Soup Social Thursdays and lunchtime drop-ins, bringing people together to eat, chat and connect.

They also used the surplus to cook a thank-you meal for local volunteers following a community litter-pick, giving people another opportunity to come together and celebrate their contribution.

For those who simply need or want some extra food, the hub also runs a weekly Free Food Corner, where people can drop in and help themselves to the surplus available.

Working together to make a difference

The work at Dyfatty Junction has also been supported through Enterprise Mobility’s Fill Your Tank® programme, which focuses on food insecurity.

Through its support for FareShare Cymru, the programme has helped extend the support available to Dyfatty Junction, enabling surplus food to play an even greater role within the community.

Enterprise Mobility has three offices supporting mobility across Swansea, and its wider community-giving work focuses on supporting communities through partnerships, funding and volunteering.

For FareShare Cymru, partnerships like this help us extend the reach of surplus food and support more community organisations to make use of food that would otherwise go to waste.

More than just food

Dyfatty Junction is about much more than food.

The hub brings together a range of services and community activities, including job support, health drop-ins, benefits advice and bike-repair workshops. It is also home to community groups, while the community café provides a friendly place to meet over a cup of tea and toast.

More than 250 people use the community café each week, alongside people visiting the hub for its wider services and activities.

For FareShare Cymru, being part of this kind of community setting demonstrates the wider value of surplus food. Food can provide an opportunity to bring people together, support community activities and create a welcoming space where people can access other forms of support too.

Laura Haines-Burke, Community Food Members Lead at FareShare Cymru, said:

“Dyfatty Junction is exactly how we love to see the food being used – bringing the community together.”

Tackling food waste and supporting communities

Surplus food can arise for many reasons, including over-supply, over-ordering, seasonal stock, packaging changes and production trials.

Rather than allowing this food to go to waste, FareShare Cymru redistributes it through our network of almost 200 charities, schools and community organisations across South Wales.

Dyfatty Junction is one of these organisations, finding its own ways to turn surplus food into something valuable for the people who use the hub.

From shared meals and volunteer thank-yous to the Free Food Corner, surplus food is being put to use in ways that respond directly to the local community.

It is a simple but powerful example of what can happen when good food is redirected: less food waste, more food for communities and more opportunities for people to come together.

The post How Surplus Food Is Making a Difference at Dyfatty Junction appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

Jesus Cares began in a small room, helping families who could not afford Christmas presents. Today, the organisation distributes around 2,500 food hampers every month. Its growth reflects increasing community need and the determination of volunteers to provide practical support throughout the year.

From Seasonal Support to Year-Round Impact

Jesus Cares was established to help families facing hardship during the festive season. However, volunteers quickly recognised that many people needed support long after Christmas had passed.

As a result, the project expanded beyond seasonal gift giving. It now provides food and other essential items throughout the year. Today, Jesus Cares supports individuals and families across South Wales through a wide network of community organisations, charities, and support services.

Meeting Growing Demand

The scale of the operation today is a testament to how far the project has come. The warehouse is a hive of activity, with volunteers receiving deliveries, organising stock, and preparing hampers for distribution.

Around 2,500 food hampers leave the warehouse each month, helping people access essential food and household items during difficult times. Strong partnerships and community support help Jesus Cares reach thousands of people across the region.

The Role of FareShare Cymru

FareShare Cymru supplies ambient surplus food that helps stock many of the hampers distributed by Jesus Cares.

These products provide valuable cupboard staples. They also ensure good-quality food reaches people who can use it.By redistributing surplus food, FareShare Cymru helps organisations like Jesus Cares maximise their resources, reduce food waste, and support more people in their communities.

Looking Ahead

The story of Jesus Cares demonstrates how a simple idea can grow into something far-reaching. The organisation has adapted to meet changing needs. What started with Christmas presents now helps thousands of people every month. Throughout that growth, Jesus Cares has remained focused on supporting people through hardship.

FareShare Cymru is proud to support that work, helping ensure surplus food reaches communities where it can make the greatest difference.

Jesus Cares shows the impact that can be achieved when communities come together around a shared purpose. Through the dedication of volunteers, the support of local partners, and the redistribution of surplus food, thousands of people across South Wales receive practical help every month.

The post Jesus Cares – A Journey of Growth and Compassion appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

Each year in Wales, around 400,000 tonnes of food is wasted, much of it still perfectly good to eat. At the same time, 1 in 5 adults in Wales face poverty and food insecurity. Through the Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund, FareShare Cymru works with Welsh producers and food businesses to redirect good-to-eat surplus food to charities and community organisations across the country — turning an environmental challenge into a social solution.

Originally introduced to remove cost barriers that prevent businesses from donating surplus food, the fund covers transport, staffing and packaging costs, making it completely free for Welsh food producers to donate.

With this renewed three-year commitment, even more surplus food can stay in Wales and reach people who need it most.

Supporting Welsh Growers to Support Welsh Communities

Between April 2025 and March 2026, the Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund helped rescue over 58 tonnes of Welsh produce, supporting 186 Community Food Members across South Wales and providing the equivalent of 138,795 meals to an estimated 21,390 people.

Supporting Welsh growers means supporting Welsh communities — helping ensure good food reaches plates, not landfill.

Removing Barriers for Welsh Food Producers

In recent years, rising costs across the food sector have made surplus redistribution more difficult, with disposal routes such as anaerobic digestion often cheaper than donation.

The Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund helps remove those barriers by covering the practical costs associated with redistribution — making it easier for producers to ensure surplus food reaches people instead of going to waste.

Welsh growers and producers consistently highlight how important the fund has been.

Piers Lunt, Head Grower at Bremenda Isaf Farm, said:

“This fund has been absolutely instrumental in diverting surplus from waste. We had a situation where cucumbers destined for school meals were producing significant quantities during the summer holidays. It was a lifeline for us to have a third-sector route with no limit on the quantities it could handle.”

Matthew Thomas, National Account Manager at Puffin Produce, added:

“The Surplus with Purpose initiative offers a solution to the problem of food waste by allowing us to cover harvesting and labour costs for donating otherwise commercially unviable surplus.”

Turning Surplus Food into Community Impact

Surplus food redistributed through the fund supports hundreds of charities and community organisations across Wales — helping them provide meals, reduce food costs and create welcoming spaces where people can connect.

As one community member attending a surplus-food-supported lunch club at Grow Rhondda shared:

“This was more than just food to me.”

Together, partnerships like these show how surplus food can do far more than fill plates — it helps strengthen communities across Wales.

A Welsh Solution for Welsh Food

The renewal of the Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund ensures Welsh producers can continue donating surplus food free of charge, while communities benefit from reliable access to nutritious ingredients.

It reinforces a simple principle:

Welsh surplus food belongs on Welsh plates.

Food businesses interested in donating through the Surplus with Purpose Cymru Fund can contact swp@fareshare.cymru to learn more.

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Developing Life Skills Through the College Community Shop

Beechwood College offers a personalised curriculum focused on confidence, independence, and lifelong learning. As part of this approach, the college runs a community shop where students practise packing shopping and handling produce safely.

Students also help organise stock and prepare items for sessions. This gives them real-world experience in teamwork and responsibility. Meanwhile, the shop itself is vibrant and welcoming. During our visit, students regularly stopped by to say hello and get involved.

Because the shop is part of everyday college life, it creates a natural space for interaction and learning.

Culinary Learning and Student Food Education

In addition, surplus food from FareShare Cymru is used in cooking sessions. These sessions help students develop practical kitchen skills in a supportive environment.

Students learn how to prepare simple meals using fresh, chilled, and ambient ingredients. At the same time, they explore nutrition and safe food handling. As a result, learners become more confident using ingredients creatively and reducing food waste.

Student-Led Enterprises and Creative Projects

Students at Beechwood College also take part in enterprise activities. For example, they create handmade items to sell through Etsy.

Through this work, students practise planning, making, and presenting products. They also learn about budgeting and customer awareness. Together, these activities support independence and confidence in a practical way.

Summer Hatch: Expanding Food Learning Opportunities

Looking ahead, the college plans to introduce a summer hatch where students will serve ice cream from the shop space. This will create another opportunity to practise teamwork and service skills.

Importantly, projects like this help students apply what they learn in real situations. As a result, confidence continues to grow over time.

The Role of FareShare Cymru in Wales

FareShare Cymru supplies in-date surplus food that supports learning across the college. Because of this support, students can take part in practical food-based activities each week.

In addition, food redistribution in Wales helps reduce waste while supporting education. Therefore, partnerships like this create both social and environmental benefits.

Developing Confidence, Independence, and Life Skills

Through the community shop, cooking sessions, and enterprise activities, students develop a wide range of transferable skills. These include:

• food handling and hygiene
• organisation and stock awareness
• teamwork and communication
• planning and problem-solving
• nutrition awareness
• confidence and independence

Together, these experiences help students prepare for life beyond college.

Community, Education, and Sustainability

Overall, Beechwood College shows how surplus food can support meaningful learning. At the same time, it helps reduce waste through food redistribution in Wales.

Partnerships like this demonstrate how practical activities can build confidence, support independence, and strengthen student experience across the college community.

The post Beechwood College, Sully – Learning Through Food and Creativity appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

The pantry operates weekly on Thursdays from the CF61 building on Station Road, supporting around 65–70 households per session. During peak periods in November and December 2023, attendance reached a record 75 households in a single week, typically feeding families of four. Between 2023–2024, the pantry recorded 3,109 visits, reaching an estimated 12,436 people over the year. 

Affordable Food with Choice and Dignity 

For just £5, customers receive food worth at least three times that value. Stock includes chilled, frozen, ambient and fresh produce, alongside fruit, vegetables, and bakery items. 

To meet growing demand, the pantry has shifted from a fully self-serve model. Volunteers now work alongside customers, helping them select items that suit their household needs. This ensures sessions run smoothly while maintaining dignity, choice, and personal interaction. 

There are no eligibility criteria, keeping the pantry accessible and stigma-free. Customers may be facing financial pressure, living in a rural area with limited food options, or simply wanting to prevent food waste. All £5 contributions are reinvested into purchasing high-quality, in-date food for the following week, focusing on ingredient-based products households can combine with surplus goods to create meals. 

Customer feedback shows the difference the pantry makes: 

“It makes a huge difference – we can have a proper meal. A shop here does at least two meals for four of us when we would otherwise have gone without.” 

“It’s greatly helped me financially and I eat a much wider variety of things now.” 

The Role of FareShare Cymru 

FareShare Cymru supports the pantry’s weekly operation by redistributing in-date surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Additional stock comes from FareShare Go collections from Tesco and Waitrose, local Co-op stores, local producers, In Kind Direct, and individual donations. 

Across the Llantwit Major and St Athan pantries, an average of 300kg of surplus food is redistributed each week — providing environmental benefits while supporting households across the Vale. 

More Than a Pantry 

The FoodShare Pantry has grown into a wider community hub. Customers book 10-minute slots to manage flow, while volunteers create a welcoming, supportive atmosphere. 

The CF61 building also hosts a community café, clothes bank, and access to advice services, helping address broader needs such as budgeting, employment, and wellbeing. Around 35 volunteers across both pantry sites ensure smooth operations while keeping the space friendly and personal. 

Growth and Development 

In January 2024, GVS launched FoodShare Pantry St Athan, extending its reach within the Vale of Glamorgan. Work continues to raise awareness of this new provision and refine the model to best meet local needs. 

The evolution of the Llantwit Major Pantry demonstrates responsiveness to demand — adapting its approach so families continue to receive affordable, accessible food in a dignified way. 

GVS FoodShare Pantry shows how FareShare Cymru’s redistribution model enables food members to deliver practical, community-based support while reducing food waste. 

FareShare Cymru helps the community food pantry in Wales provide choice, protect the environment, and strengthen community resilience. Partnerships like this turn good food into positive social and environmental impact across Wales. 

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Based in Haverfordwest, the Big Bocs Bwyd is far more than a food project. Instead, it acts as a welcoming community hub. Here, children and families learn about food, sustainability and wellbeing. At the same time, they access free or low-cost surplus food in a dignified setting.

A School at the Heart of Its Community

The Welsh Government funded Big Bocs Bwyd programme launched in 2021. Since then, schools across Wales have developed local models to meet community needs.

At Prendergast CP School, staff transformed shipping containers into practical learning spaces. They also created a community shop stocked with surplus food from FareShare Cymru.

The school opened Big Bocs Bwyd in September 2023. From the beginning, leaders linked it with the pupil-led enterprise Preloved@Prendergast. This initiative promotes reusing and recycling clothes and household items. Together, the projects reduce waste and ease financial pressure. As a result, pupils build pride, independence and confidence.

Learning Through Food

Food education runs throughout the school week. For example, pupils grow produce, cook meals and explore nutrition using surplus food from FareShare Cymru.

In addition, a health nutritionist and local chef deliver family cooking workshops. These sessions help children understand balanced meals and healthy choices. Meanwhile, parents lead cultural cookery sessions celebrating Turkish, Greek and Spanish cuisines. Through this approach, children try new foods and explore different traditions.

Supporting Families and Reducing Food Waste

Through Big Bocs Bwyd, the school provides practical and dignified access to food. Families can choose Grab ’n’ Go meal bags or Too Good To Go bags. As a result, they make the most of surplus food while reducing waste.

Furthermore, Springboard have previously delivered parent workshops at the school. These include cooking with children, pizza party planning and a Level 2 Food Hygiene course. Consequently, parents build skills, grow in confidence and strengthen family bonds.

Community, Enterprise and Outdoor Learning

The project reaches beyond the school gates. For instance, pupils and staff host stalls at Haverfoodfest and the school’s Prenderbury Festival. These events showcase enterprise and community pride.

Pupils also created the CogUrdd Cookbook. They secured sponsorship from a local solicitors and sold copies locally. In doing so, they developed business skills while raising funds.

Meanwhile, Prendergardd, the school’s community garden, plays a key role. Through gardening sessions and a summer club, children stay active and connect with nature. They also learn where food comes from.

Recognition and Young People Leading Change

The project continues to gain recognition. It earned awards at the Pembrokeshire County Show and achieved Level 2 in the RHS School Gardening Awards. In addition, it secured a shortlist place in the Climate Challenge Cymru Awards.

Students from Haverfordwest High School volunteer at Big Bocs Bwyd as part of their curriculum. At the same time, the Havergardd Youth Squad has raised funds to support the project. Together, young people drive positive change in their own community.

Turning Surplus Food into Opportunity

FareShare Cymru’s support underpins Big Bocs Bwyd at Prendergast CP School. Through this partnership, surplus food becomes a tool for learning, enterprise and community connection.

Looking ahead, the school plans to recruit more volunteers and expand family workshops. It also hopes to secure funding for a new community room. Ultimately, this space could support a future pupil-led café.

Prendergast CP School shows what happens when food sits at the heart of a community. It nourishes learning. It strengthens wellbeing. And it brings people together.

The post Prendergast Community Primary School: Growing Together Through Food appeared first on FareShare Cymru.

A Lifeline in Times of Need

For many people in Bridgend, BARC is more than a support centre—it is a lifeline. One staff member shared the stark reality of life for some service users:

“We lose around two clients a year to the cold,”

reflecting the devastating impact of winter on people sleeping rough. Service users emphasised the importance of the centre, noting BARC’s provision of two meals a day, ensures that those most vulnerable have access to consistent nourishment and a safe space, particularly during the harsh winter months.

The Transformative Impact of a Pop-Up Kitchen

Thanks to a Pop-Up Kitchen provided by FareShare Cymru, BARC has dramatically increased its capacity to serve hot, nutritious meals. Before the kitchen, staff could only prepare sandwiches or small portions of porridge, limiting the number of clients who could be fed and the variety of meals offered. Now, with the new kitchen, the centre can serve hot lunches to up to 60 people at a time, including roasts with vegetables, Yorkshire puddings, and gravy.

“We can do 60 bowls of porridge at once,” explained a staff member. “Before we couldn’t do that. Now we can do a big pot, and everybody gets fed.”

The kitchen also allows BARC to make the most of surplus food from FareShare Cymru, reducing waste while increasing the quality and nutritional value of the meals provided.

Beyond Meals: Building Community

The Pop-Up Kitchen has enabled BARC to expand its services and strengthen social connections. Former service users often volunteer in the kitchen, helping to prepare meals and giving back to the community. One example is John, who was once homeless:

“He’s been housed for a while now and he’s working here every day. Most of our volunteers have evolved from service users.”

Volunteers like John gain skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose, while service users benefit from a welcoming, supportive environment. Staff and volunteers also ensure that clients receive wraparound support, including help with budgeting, tenancy management, and life skills.

“It’s all right giving someone a house, but if they can’t manage it, you’re just setting them up to fail. We have a plan for every client, making sure they can keep their flat,” a staff member explained.

During our visit, the kitchen was a hub of activity, with staff preparing meals while service users collected food, chatted, and connected with neighbours:

“Breakfast is just toast and cereal, but lunch… that’s where you can see everyone come together,” said a staff member.

The Impact of FareShare Cymru

FareShare Cymru’s support has been instrumental in this transformation. The Pop-Up Kitchen provides a reliable platform for nutritious meals, enabling BARC to expand services and plan ahead confidently. By turning surplus food into hot meals and community events, FareShare Cymru helps BARC reduce food waste, strengthen social ties, and improve wellbeing for vulnerable individuals.

“The Pop-Up Kitchen from FareShare Cymru has completely changed what we can offer our clients. It’s more than food—it’s hope, warmth, and a lifeline”

Looking Forward

With the Pop-Up Kitchen, BARC can reach more people than ever before, providing not only meals but also a sense of community, dignity, and stability. Plans are underway to open a second centre focused on families, offering a café, therapy sessions, and healthy cooking workshops, ensuring that children and parents receive support before challenges escalate.

Through its partnership with FareShare Cymru, BARC demonstrates the power of practical resources combined with compassion. By providing food, care, and community, the centre continues to transform lives in Bridgend.

“Knowing people can come in, have a hot meal, and feel supported—it’s what we’ve always aimed for. FareShare Cymru has helped us make that possible,”

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