Oxfordshire charity food hub celebrates 15-year anniversary

The food charity was started in 2008 by Robin Aiken and Davin Cairns

A surplus food charity is celebrating 15 years serving the local community.

The Oxford Food Hub, based in Botley, has been supporting Oxfordshire charities since October 2008.

Founders Robin Aiken and Davin Cairns started out collecting leftover food from one supermarket and delivering it to five charities in a car.

The hub now boasts two warehouses, six vans and 90 volunteers who collect and deliver food to 200 charities and community groups across the county.

Last year it saved 497 tonnes of food from landfill - enough food to make one million meals.

The charity, formerly known as the Oxford Food Bank, says its mission is to reduce food waste - and the associated carbon emissions - and alleviate food poverty.

'Crucial' work

To mark the 15-year anniversary, Deputy Lieutenant Lady Baker, Layla Moran MP and the Lord Mayor of Oxford attended an event at the Oxford Food Hub on Tuesday.

Thanking local people for giving money, surplus food, and volunteering their time, the hub's CEO, Emily Smith, said: "What we have achieved over the past 15 years is incredible.

"Hard work by volunteers, supported by a small staff team and funding from generous donors has enabled us to support thousands of people experiencing food poverty across Oxfordshire."

But she said there would be a challenging few years ahead, with the cost of living crisis "hitting people from all walks of life and across the county" and "less surplus food easily available to us".

Ms Smith added: "I would hope 15 years from now food poverty will no longer exist but, for the time being, the work Oxford Food Hub is doing to support the charities on the front line, providing food and other support across Oxfordshire, is crucial."

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