CAG Storytelling – Ashburton Community Fridge
The Community Action Groups (CAG) Devon project supports twenty-four groups located in Mid Devon and Teignbridge, operating various projects such as community fridges, repair cafés, and beach cleans.
The project’s aim is to create a more sustainable future by empowering community groups to take action. The economic and environmental impact of these groups can be measured through gathering data and general number crunching, but what about the wider impacts? How do we gain a better understanding of the impacts on volunteers and communities? What better way than to ask volunteers themselves.
We’re sharing stories collected from seven CAG volunteers as they describe their experiences of volunteering in their local community.
Today’s story belongs to Inge Page who volunteers with Ashburton Community Fridge.
Inge Page has been running Ashburton Community Fridge for well over a year. The fridge takes surplus food from supermarkets and other food retailers that would otherwise have been thrown away and is available to everyone in the community.
Inge says the fridge helps bring people together. Aside from the obvious benefits of reducing food waste, it helps when budgets are tight and creates conversations such as sharing recipes and meal ideas. From Inge’s point of view, it’s great to see a fridge go from full to empty, knowing that you’ve done your bit for the environment and helped people save money too.
Find out more about Inge’s volunteering journey and Ashburton Community Fridge here.
If you’re interested in improving your local community and can spare an hour or two, why not connect with your local group? Groups in Mid Devon and Teignbridge can benefit from CAG Devon support but there are plenty of useful resources for groups in other areas. Visit CAG Devon or contact info@cagdevon.org.uk for more information.
Ashburton Community Fridge is one of many community organisations in Devon supported by CAG Devon, a project funded by Devon County Council.
Read previous stories here:
