A NEW community-led initiative, which will be the first of its kind in Yorkshire, is being launched to help tackle waste food in Malton and Norton.

The Ryedale Free Fridge, which is being developed with the support of the Coast and Vale Community Action’s Totally Socially project, will be located at The Wesley Centre in Saville Street, Malton.

Initially it will be open for three days a week to enable residents and businesses to share surplus food and for anyone to help themselves to quality food which retailers can no longer sell even though it is still suitable to eat.

The Fridge will launch on Sunday, December 9, and will be serving a soup which will be made from donated food. The Fridge will then be open every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, from 10am to 4pm.

Lindsay Wrightson, from Ryedale Free Fridge, said they already had pledges of food and were calling all local food businesses and allotment holders in Malton to donate surplus food from December 8 onwards.

"The Fridge will be the first of its kind in North Yorkshire and will put Malton on the map as a concerned food capital, addressing food waste while supporting those who need food," she said.

"We aim to have a fridge located in both Malton and Norton – and it’s wonderful that The Wesley Centre has generously agreed to host the Malton Fridge, though a venue for the Norton Fridge is yet to be secured."

Lindsay said food waste was a big issue in the UK, with the average household throwing away £700 worth of food every year and at the same time four million people in the UK are living in food poverty.

"Most food waste in the UK is avoidable and could have been eaten had it been better managed," she said.

"The Fridge already has pledges of food from local businesses and is calling all local food businesses and allotment holders in Malton to donate surplus food from December 8 onwards."

Lindsay added: “The Fridge also needs volunteers who are able to give two to three hours per week of their time to either help to maintain the fridge or collect the donations of food. Full training will be given in food safety with the first session starting on November 27, so we urge anyone who is interested to get in touch as soon as possible.

"For those who are not able to give time perhaps they may consider making a donation to the project instead.”

Rev Tanya Short, Methodist Minister in Malton, said it was a great idea.

"We’re excited to be hosting this venture and we want to be long-term partners with Ryedale Free Fridge," she said.

"It’s a perfect fit for the Wesley Centre as the Community Hub for Malton, which recently secured the planning go-ahead for its major redevelopment; and speaking from experience, I know there’s such a genuine need for the Fridge in our town.”

The Malton and Norton Lions are also supporting the development of The Fridge and have contributed to the purchase of the fridge.

Steve Sidaway, president of the Lions, said: “We are really pleased to support this outstanding idea which will help reduce food waste and make a great difference to those in food poverty.”

To find out more about the Ryedale Free Fridge, donate or volunteer, phone 07931 202779, email ryedalefreefridge@gmail.com or Facebook at Ryedale Free Fridge.