The Somerset Local Pantry Network (SLPN) has won FareShare South West’s Social Impact Award for Community and Sustainability.
Food charity FareShare South West launched their Social Impact Awards this year, and SLPN have won the Community and Sustainability category for the innovative ways the network utilises food for community resilience.
SLPN consists of nine local pantries who buy and collect surplus food and make it available to members for a low weekly fee, which helps reduce food waste, feed families and save them money.
An awards evening took place in Bristol, where representatives from East Bridgwater and Minehead Area Pantries and Somerset Council accepted a glass trophy and certificate on behalf of the whole Network. FareShare South West are also gifting each pantry an electric hand blender.
Cllr Theo Butt Philip, Lead Member for Transformation and Human Resources, said:
What a wonderful result! We entered the Network into these awards because we know what incredible work the pantries do for their communities.
Each pantry is run by volunteers, so winning this award demonstrates their commitment to building resilient and sustainable communities, and I’m proud they’ve got the recognition they deserve – congratulations!
I would like to thank our Council officers who support the SLPN – I know they enjoy working with the pantries and are always there as a helping hand when needed.
Roni Adjei, Head of Region at FareShare South West, said:
I would like to laud the innovative way the network of local pantries in Somerset have approached supporting their communities and tackling hunger.
The achievement of the Network so far should form an effective blueprint for other local authorities and community initiatives to follow. Well done to everyone involved.
SLPN is a partnership between Somerset Council, local community groups and food charity, FareShare South West.
Somerset Council provides initial grant money to fund the launch of a new pantry, but each pantry is independently run by voluntary sector groups.
Earlier this year, Action Against Hunger, another food charity, made a film about the Somerset pantries, highlighting the positive impact they make in communities. Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJBij7bepKs.
Full details of SLPN can be found here: www.somerset.gov.uk/localpantry.
