Highworth charity keeps over 33t of food from going to waste
There have been 134 community larder openings so far
Last updated 22nd Sep 2025
A charity in Highworth has saved more than 33 tonnes of food in just over 2.5 years.
The food – which comes from local shops – would otherwise have to be thrown away.
Since it started operating at the end of January 2023, the number of weekly visitors has more than tripled.
Alison Durrant, chair of the Highworth Community Larder, said: “What’s great about this is that it’s for everybody and it’s about recycling.
“If you were really hard-pressed for money, it wouldn’t be enough to keep you going, but it does make a difference to the budgets of some people and it’s social as well.”
When it first opened, the larder had around 30 customers – now, the figure is up to around 100.
It operates every Tuesday from 8am to 10am at Westrop Primary School and each customer is allowed to pick five items to take home.
Between Friday and Monday evening, volunteers collect food from 13 shops across the area who have agreed to donate their leftovers, ranging from Royal Wootton Bassett to Faringdon.
They then have to sort through everything to make sure no rotten or out-of-date food is makes it to the larder.
“There’s a difference between ‘Use By’ and ‘Best Before’”, explained Trustee Chris Bennell.
“It might be on its ‘Use By’ on the day but if you’re collecting it on a Saturday, it won’t be good on Tuesday morning.
“But if its beyond its ‘Best Before’ date that’s absolutely fine. That’s usually packaged food and things like that.”
The most common items the larder has are bananas and tiger baguettes but there is also a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, depending on the season.
Sometimes, they also have cereal – much to the excitement of many children – and flowers.
Unlike a foodbank, the community larder is open to anyone in Highworth and the surrounding area.
“We don’t know what peoples’ circumstances are and we don’t want to know”, added Ms Durrant.
“But we’ve got the impression that it really does make a difference and people do tell us that. Sometimes they’re in really dire circumstances and we try to signpost them to other services.”
On Wednesday (17 September) the group is also launching a monthly community café to help people connect with others in their community.