Demand soars for Share Wokingham food project

A food-sharing project has said it now supports about 2,000 people every week because of soaring demand.

Share Wokingham, a volunteer-led project in Berkshire that started during the pandemic, has blamed the increase on the rising cost of living.

The charity distributes 10 tonnes of fresh food to people across the county every week, which would otherwise be thrown away.

Donations come from catering companies, supermarkets and bakeries.

Share Wokingham was set up in 2020 and was intended to provide temporary help for people facing hardship during lockdown.

Food that local companies found was surplus to requirements, or had been cancelled due to the onset of lockdown, was distributed to those that needed support.

The organisation's founder Claire Revie said she had expected the need to decrease after the pandemic.

But three years later the project has expanded to cope with demand, and now has 150 volunteers across the county who help collect, sort and redistribute the food.

Ms Revie said the project was "not like a food bank".

"It's just about sharing what we have," she added.

Any food that goes out-of-date and cannot be used is given away to feed local farm animals.

The organisation asks its users to donate £1 to cover costs, after which people can help themselves to various products like fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and pastries.

People do not need a referral to visit and can collect food without giving their surnames.

One man said: "My partner's out of work, I'm in cancer treatment and it just helps with the pennies coming here."

Another woman said she had been using the charity since her husband died in March.

"It saves me having to get somebody to take me shopping," she said.

Alongside its headquarters at Norreys Church in Wokingham, the project has 15 "spin-off" community pantries.

Clive Tyldesley, who volunteers in the newest pantry based in Arborfield, said he does not ask about people's circumstances.

He said: "Whether you've had unemployment or disability or maybe you have taken on a mortgage which is just a little bit too grand for you at the moment - we don't ask any questions.

"The only question I ask is 'are you okay?'"

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