Around 400,000 tonnes of food goes to waste in Wales each year, much of it still good to eat. If just 1% of that was saved, it could be used to provide over 9 million meals—enough to provide three meals to every person in Wales. Simultaneously, a quarter of the population of Wales is facing poverty and struggling to access quality, nutritious food. Thousands of people across the country are experiencing food insecurity and are regularly going hungry.

FareShare Cymru was established in 2010 and delivers surplus, good to eat food that might otherwise go to waste to charities and community groups in every corner of Wales. Today FareShare Cymru has distributed tonnes of surplus food to a network of groups and organisations across Wales that provide food and other essential services to people in need. From cookery classes and lunch clubs in community centres, to school breakfast clubs, stocking the shelves of community pantries and providing hearty meals in homelessness shelters, food redistributed by FareShare Cymru is used by charities in a variety of ways. It enables these groups to bring people together and continue offering their essential support services.

One of those groups we support is the Ystradowen Community Centre CGYCC, a centre that works extremely hard to build and maintain a crucial sense of community in the area. The community hub covers 3 counties and caters to everybody from all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Emily, a project support officer involved in managing the centre, describes its inclusive nature: “We cover as many areas as we can, we have no boundaries. It’s here for everyone to use, anyone who needs the services. It’s open to anybody and everybody”. Despite the challenges faced by the community centre, they continually strive to provide the local community with services and events that they need.

There’s over 18 clubs and services that are run from the centre including a ‘Ti a Fi’ childcare group, a gardening club, a book club, and a lunch service for senior members of the community. The centre also provides transport for the community including a shuttle bus to and from their clubs, hospital transfers, and trips to various locations across the country; public transport infrastructure is poor in the area, so this part of their service is extremely valuable and helps people get to and from places they might struggle to reach: “We have a minibus and a community car so the centre is accessible to all. We only get 3 or 4 public buses a day.”

Dai, a volunteer for over 10 years, comments on the range of services offered:

“If there’s a gap in community provision, we’ll try our best to fill that gap. If anybody comes up with an idea, it doesn’t matter what it is or where the people are from, we’ll try our best to help.”

Covering numerous local towns and villages, the centre has adapted to rising demand. “There isn’t a centre nearby that does the same as what we do. We do what we can. The demand falls on us, and we try our best. There’s always a need for change.” The services run at the centre are informed by community feedback and a good rapport with those that live in the area. The centre can also be rented by the community to host their own events.

Feeding the Community

The food provided by FareShare Cymru enables the community centre to run its lunch club, offering patrons a three-course meal for just £5. For some, these meals are the only hot meals they will have all week. Beyond just providing food, the meals offer an opportunity for social interaction amongst elderly members of the community:

“The meals provide a big social benefit. They come here for the hot meal but they get to socialise at the same time. It reduces isolation and loneliness. When they have food here, it helps combat poverty because they save on heating and food. It ties in to other issues a lot really.”

Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, particularly challenging for those on lower incomes or in rural areas, services like the lunch club are invaluable for their wide-ranging benefits.

The food provided by FareShare Cymru also support various events at the centre, from Bingo afternoons to community BBQs. Funds raised by these events are reinvested into the charity, helping sustain the services and events that bring the community together. If you want to find out more about, visit the Ystradowen Community Centre Facebook page.