How a Kendal project is turning waste food into meals

The Waste into Wellbeing project, part of South Lakes Action on Climate Change, runs the People’s Cafe and Community Larder.

The project takes food that would otherwise be wasted from shops and eateries and turns it into nourishing meals.

These meals are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis or redistributed to residents in need through the community larder.

The meals are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis or redistributed to residents in need (Image: Harry Atkinson)

The project aims to reduce waste from wholesalers, hospitality, and retailers.

They aim to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and help achieve a zero-carbon Kendal.

Volunteer cook Claire Wickham said: "We recently had a glut of frozen beef burgers, so we made Bobotie, a South African dish, at our cook-along.

"We mash the burgers up to use as mince, adding some curry powder, sultanas and mango chutney and topping with an egg custard.

"It might sound a little unusual, but it is absolutely delicious."

The recipe is featured in the Kinder Cookbook, which celebrates the Kinder Kind of Kitchen initiative by The Cumberland.

Volunteers prepare nourishing meals from food that would have been wasted  (Image: Harry Atkinson)

The book features recipes contributed by organisers and volunteers from food projects in Cumbria.

Ms Wickham said the People’s Cafe monthly cook-alongs attract around 15 people.

She said: "We just ask people to pay what they can afford.

"One woman, who lives on her own, commented on how lovely it was to cook and eat with someone else.

"That can make such a difference to people."

Volunteer at the People’s Cafe and Community Larder (Image: Harry Atkinson)

Project lead at the People’s Cafe and Community Food Larder, Stacy Hurley, said: "We are very proud of the fact that in 2020 we saved five tonnes of food from landfill – and in 2023 that went up to 33 tonnes.

"We are, at heart, an environmental charity and we care passionately about reducing food waste.

"We believe that everyone can make a difference.

"Even the way you cook at home has a real impact.

"Our volunteers are fabulous and they can give you all sorts of ideas on how to make delicious food from leftovers and scraps that you might have been tempted to throw away.

"We know that food poverty is a real issue but so, too, is social isolation.

"We love bringing people together to cook, eat and share their stories.

"All the food we distribute and share in our café would have been discarded.

"Now it is helping to feed a community."

Nigel Taylor, head of marketing at The Cumberland, said: "What a surprise it was, finding out we were cooking Bobotie at Kendal People’s Cafe - a very long way from South Africa.

"The fact we were making it with surplus food, ensuring it did not go to waste, was great to see.

"Bobotie is a culinary delight that embodies the cultural diversity of South Africa.

"Cooking it for the first time with a group of Kendal People’s Cafe volunteer members and Cumberland colleagues was an amazing experience.

"I can honestly say the meal was delicious and simple to make.

"The shared experience of the cook-a-long and seeing what fantastic work this Fareshare Lancashire and Cumbria community food members do is truly heartwarming."

The Waste into Wellbeing project is a part of South Lakes Action on Climate Change, which aims to reduce food waste and help achieve a zero-carbon Kendal.

The People’s Cafe and Community Larder is a vital part of this initiative, providing a much-needed service to the community while also promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility.