Plantation Larder

The Plantation Community Larder was launched in August 2024. A group of residents worked with Voluntary Action Lochaber, Lochaber Environmental Group and others for the provision of a community larder in a small, underused community hub in the Plantation.

Start-up funding was from HUBBUB with a match donation from Fort Wiliam Food Bank and Fort William Community Action Group. The Project involves redistribution of short-dated/surplus foods from local supermarkets and FareShare - reducing food waste as well as helping those experiencing food insecurity.

The Community Larder is currently serviced by 11 wonderful volunteers, including 5 people with additional support needs for whom the volunteering counts toward both the Saltire Awards and Adult Achievement Awards.

The larder is now open for 1-2 hours 5 days a week. This has significantly added to the opening times and accessibility of the hub, with a total of 292 customer visits to the larder between August 2024 and March 2025.

This increased activity has led to interest in cookery workshops at the hub, including sessions on creative use of short-dated/surplus food – ‘who knew you could do so much with a pumpkin!’ A programme of similarly fun and educational workshops is planned for 2025/2026 funded by Ward Discretionary Budget.

Volunteers were amazed to discover that so far they have redistributed 1076kg of short-dated/surplus food to fellow residents, at no cost, which would otherwise have gone to waste.  ‘It’s going so well. We want to do more now. Next thing is a fridge and freezer!’ Plans have begun!