Church opens mobile coffee shop to tackle food waste

When the UK went into its first coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, a group of volunteers in Trethomas responded by setting up a foodbank to help deliver food parcels to those in need.

Known as the Food Hub, the foodbank has since gone onto support thousands of residents during the pandemic and is continuing to do so.

Around 120 volunteers are still involved with the scheme 18 months after it was first set up at St Thomas’ Church.

It was set up as part of the Care Project – a volunteering programme run by the Parish Trust, which used to be known as the Bedwas, Machen, Michaelston-y-Fedw and Rudry (BMMR) Parish Trust.

But despite the positive role the Food Hub played within the community, food waste became an issue.

To address this, the not-for-profit social enterprise Caffi Caredig was created in May this year.

Based out of a mobile trailer, Caffi Caredig sells tea, coffee, hot food and snacks – using ingredients from the Food Hub which are at risk of going to waste.

The profits made from Caffi Caredig are then invested back into the Parish Trust – supporting the Care Project.

The Parish Trust has also set up its ‘Bag a Bargain’ scheme – where a bag of food worth around £15 is sold for £2.50 – as part of efforts to reduce food waste.

As well as food from the Food Hub, Caffi Caredig also gets its supplies from wholesalers, meaning it can maintain a consistent menu.

Elys Rees, 19, has worked as the project manager for Caffi Caredig since it started in May. He said: “Every penny we spend goes towards good causes.

“The cafe is open to all and the proceeds go back into the community.”

“Caredig means ‘Kindness’ in Welsh – it’s something we want to display to the community. Kindness is what charity should be about.”

He added: “We buy our coffee beans from Manumit Coffee. They employ people who were victims of modern-day slavery and pay them a fair wage to pick coffee beans.

Reverend Dean Roberts, of the Parish Trust, said the cafe has already made a big difference in reducing food waste.

He said: “Food waste was an issue. Much of the food we use in the Food Hub would have been chucked into landfill with all the packaging by suppliers.

“We’re one of the busiest foodbanks in the county and help lots of families, but we still see waste. However, since setting up Caffi Caredig and our Bag a Bargain scheme, we’ve seen a lot less.”

Rev Roberts said Caffi Caredig also offers opportunities for volunteering and to learn new skills, with food hygiene training available through the scheme. The Parish Trust is currently working to secure an ‘Investing in Volunteers‘ certificate.

Rev Roberts added: “At the start of the pandemic, I was surprised by the number of people coming in for food parcels and the amount of people struggling with the unemployment, illness or a rise in domestic violence – there were a lot of problems beyond Covid.

“The needs are there, so I wasn’t surprised when we didn’t see a reduced demand for the foodbank after Covid. We still have Universal Credit cuts and uncertainty around the economic situation on the horizon too.”

Currently, Caffi Caredig is based outside St Thomas’ Church, but it is hoped the cafe will be able to tour around and even attend events such as the Machen Show and the Big Cheese.

But to be able to move around, a generator will be needed to power the mobile cafe.

Rev Roberts said: “We want a gas generator because it’s greener than a petrol generator. We’re trying to be as eco-friendly as we can.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with the Parish Trust can visit theparishtrust.org.uk/volunteer/