The Co-op Academy community fridge helping to reduce food waste in Manchester

Students at a secondary school in Manchester are helping reduce food waste and make surplus food freely available to local people.

The Co-op Academy Manchester has opened a Community Fridge, manned by young volunteers, where anyone can exchange food that would otherwise go to waste.

The community fridge is open to everyone on Tuesdays between 3.30 and 4.30pm at the school on PLant Hill Road, and is part of a growing initiative to tackle the environmental impact of food waste.

Academy Principal Chris Beard says “I’m looking forward to our fridge growing and becoming an important asset for Higher Blackley.

“The fridge is currently opening once a week but as donations and volunteers increase, it will further support the community as a space for tackling food waste and protecting the environment.”

CEO of Co-op Academies Trust, Dr Chris Tomlinson, said: “I am very proud and delighted that Co-op Academy Manchester is another one of our schools that are supporting and helping its community in such a positive way.

“The community support and services we offer across our Trust really reflect how much we care about the communities we serve.”

We went down to speak to students involved in running the project.