Local Food Club is celebrating after impressing the Dragons with their fun and confident pitch that focused on saving “Colin the Carrot”, by asking for £500 to put towards a new commercial fridge to keep him fresh and happy for longer.Despite the humour, their message hit home with the audience, which was made up of Radstock and Westfield locals who voted to help the Club reduce food waste and enable them to provide more chilled storage for fruit and vegetables for local families facingfood insecurity.
The event on 1st October was organised by Radstock and Westfield Big Local and 3SG which gave 15 community groups and charities the chance to bid for £500 towards a project of their choice. Incredibly, all the winning bids werematch funded by The Roper Family Charitable Trust, meaning Radstock Food Club received a total of £1000 towards their fridge project – any remaining funds after the purchase of the fridge will be spent on keeping it full. The new fridge will help the volunteerteam make better use of donated and surplus fresh food, keeping fruit, vegetables and other perishable items in good condition for longer and allowing more food to reach the people who need it.
The Food Club, which is run by Radstock based charity, SWAN, provides an important lifeline for local individuals and families, helping them stretch their budgets further without compromising on healthy food. Hosted at the Radstock Library,the Food Club has become part of the welcoming community space where people can connect, build friendships and access additional support when they need it.
Sofia Perkins, Radstock Food Club Coordinator and SWAN Manager, said “We are absolutely delighted to have received this funding; it might seem like a simple thing to buy a new fridge, but for us it means being able to make the most of the donations we receive and help local families to make their money go that little bitfurther.” She continues, “We are so grateful to Radstock and Westfield Big Local, 3SG, the Dragons, The Roper Family Trust, and to those who voted for us, for recognising the importance of our work, helping us to continue supporting our community.”
As demand for affordable food continues, Radstock Food Club is keen to build on this success and strengthen relationships with more local businesses, food suppliers and community supporters. The team would love to hear from anyone who couldhelp through regular food donations, financial contributions, or other forms of support. Contact sofia@swan-transport.co.uk.
