AN organisation set up to help those facing food insecurty in Bridgwater is celebrating a year of supporting the community.

The Local Pantry for South Bridgwater, based in Hamp, is celebrating its first year of operation on November 24.

The scheme offers households that become a 'member' the chance, for a weekly fee of £3.50, of receiving between eight and 15 items a week, including fruit and veg and other food essentials.

Since being set up, the scheme has almost doubled in size – from 30 households to nearly 50. 

The scheme stops excess food going to waste and so also reduces the UKs carbon footprint, buying from excess food charity FareShare.

In the past six months, two tonnes of CO2 have been saved which would take two trees a whole lifetime to absorb out of the atmosphere.

"Volunteers and members already swap recipes and this month sees the launch of a kitchen equipment loan scheme," said a group spokesperson.

"The team leader, Scarlett, and her deputy, Becky, also have exciting ideas for the future, starting with a Christmas Fair on November 27 and in the new year, cooking demonstrations and workshops."

The South Bridgwater Local Pantry is the second in Bridgwater - the East Bridgwater Local Pantry was launched in July 2020 and has also grown. 

Meanwhile, a new Local Pantry will be launching in January to serve the Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea area. 

Anyone interested in joining South Bridgwater Local Pantry, as a member or volunteer, can find out more by emailing Scarlett at thepantry.southbridgwater@gmail.com. 

For more on the wider Local Pantry scheme call Helen Phillips, project manager on 07557 481418.