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FRESH fruit and veg has always been just one part of one of SHARE Wokingham’s work.
The surplus food project was founded in 2020 and now operates from 15 sites across the borough. It primarily offers food and other essential items, but also serves as a place to meet friendly faces, share a cup of tea and access support.
One of the latest branches to open is in Arborfield and is organised by celebrated sports broadcaster Clive Tyldesley and wife Susan after the couple expressed interest in volunteering at their village’s food bank, only to be told there wasn’t one.
Based at the Royal British Legion, the hub provides fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, pastries and much more, all donated by supermarkets within their use-by dates. It serves as its own community, a place where users can stop to have a chat or seek help, if required.
Clive said: “The word ‘foodbank’ comes with a certain connotation, I think everyone has an image of what a foodbank is or should be and they think it’s for people who are more needy than them.
“Food share, by changing one syllable, and without changing the ethos very much, suddenly gives you a positive reason to come because you’re going to take away fresh food which would otherwise end up on local farms feeding animals.
“You’re serving the community by coming along and taking the food.”
The Arborfield Garrison SDL plan has seen 3,500 new homes commissioned to be built in the village. According to Clive, such a significant influx in development makes community initiatives like SHARE even more important than they already are.
“I don’t know how many homes there will be in Arborfield in another 10 years’ time but it could be twice as many as there are now,” he said.
“That kind of expansion dilutes the identity of Arborfield as a community, unless you’ve got somewhere to go to share that you come from the same area with.”
Clive, whose beaming smile greets visitors at the front door, added that he believes the Arborfield branch has only ‘scratched the surface’ in making itself known within the village and encouraged more people to drop in.
The organisation does not carry out means tests nor does it require referrals, only asking for users’ Christian name, the first part of their postcode and a £1 donation to help further SHARE’s work.
By removing many of the barriers which ordinarily prevent people from using food services, the organisers believe that visitors see dropping by as just one part of their weekly routines, understanding the positive impact they’re having on tackling the wider issue of food waste.
SHARE Wokingham was initially founded by resident Claire Revie during the pandemic. Despite coming from a fashion and textiles background, her work with Norreys Church’s Grub Club helped open doors to work with foodservice Brakes.
Initial deliveries of food items between their sell-by and use-by dates saw the church filled with hundreds of scones and limes to give out. Claire used social media to let people know about the project and it instantly gained traction with users and food providers alike.
From serving a handful of people at Norreys Church in 2020, SHARE now helps more than 2,000 people each week, with 150 volunteers sorting, collecting and redistributing stock.
Commenting on SHARE’s growth, Claire said: “It can be quite overwhelming to be honest. When we started asking all our sites to pull their data together I was sitting there thinking, ‘Oh wow, this is a lot of people’.
“It’s just a huge privilege. It puts a smile on people’s faces.”
She added that despite operating under the SHARE name, each of the 15 sites foster their own community feels, retaining the all-important personal touch.
“Each share is its own little hub,” Claire said. “Quite a number of the volunteers that we have didn’t have the chance to get out during Covid, and the food share gave them a reason to come out and do something, which would have helped their mental health to no end.
“It’s important that volunteers come from the local community.”
Wokingham is regarded in many metrics as one of the wealthiest places in the country. As a result, SHARE believes a misconception arises that only limited need exists in the borough.
Claire said: “People get overlooked because there’s an assumption that they’re taken care of and that there isn’t an issue.
“Wokingham is one of the least funded councils in the country. It’s not an area that’s looked at as having need.
“So it’s about making people feel loved and cared for. In a society where people feel overlooked, it’s about reminding people that they matter.”
Moving forward, SHARE is looking to set up a pantry which offers a wide range of ambient items such as tinned goods, as well as cooking classes and a community kitchen.
As the scale of the organisation’s work has grown, its stock has continued to be stored at Norreys Church, a burden Claire is keen to take off of the church’s shoulders. SHARE is looking for a space to store its items which is around 1,000 square feet in size and suitable for lorry delivery.
The charity is always open to taking on new volunteers, particularly those who are available and physically able to help with food pick-ups and unloading the lorry for deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Those who are interested in volunteering or are able to offer appropriate storage space should contact: enquiries@sharewokingham.co.uk
