At FareShare Cymru, we are committed to tackling food waste while supporting community initiatives across Wales. Our partnership with Hope at The Hive in St Mellons brings these goals together, delivering practical support for residents while promoting environmental sustainability.
Introducing Zero-Waste Food Dispensers
Thanks to FareShare Cymru, The Hive now has innovative zero-waste food dispensers, allowing Pantry users to access dry goods in reusable containers. To help residents get comfortable with the system, the centre currently provides free pasta, encouraging sustainable habits and reducing packaging waste. FareShare Cymru not only supplied the dispensers but continues to fill them with surplus food, ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply for the community.
Supporting a Thriving Pantry
The Hive Pantry currently serves over 100 people, with numbers growing each week. Using a colour-coded system, members pay £5 a week to select 2 red items and 5 blue items every Tuesday. FareShare Cymru’s regular deliveries of surplus food underpin this system, helping the Pantry consistently provide high-quality, nutritious items to everyone who visits.
Beyond Food: Building Community
The Hive is more than a Pantry. It’s a vibrant hub for social activity and support, offering:
- Community Coffee Mornings with free tea, coffee, and cake
- Financial advice drop-ins via Riverside Advice
- Clubs and activities, including boxing, Diamond Art Club, Crafty Chats, Busy Bees Stay & Play, and Breastfeeding Peer Support
- Community-growing initiatives, such as onsite produce and a newly planted patio orchard
- Events for all ages, including choirs and family sessions during term time
A Sustainable Partnership
By combining food provision with zero-waste initiatives, FareShare Cymru helps The Hive reduce environmental impact while strengthening community bonds. Residents learn to use reusable containers, access nutritious food, and engage in a range of social and support activities—all supported by a reliable flow of surplus food.
Through this partnership, FareShare Cymru is proud to see Hope at The Hive thrive as a sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant community hub, showing how environmental responsibility and social support can go hand-in-hand to create lasting impact in St Mellons.