Helping Bracknell eat well for less

This month we’ve expanded our partnership with local charity Share to grow the impact of a mobile pantry service in Bracknell. This partnership will ensure more customers struggling with the cost of living can access affordable, good-quality food. 

Since launching in April 2024, the Bracknell mobile pantry has grown from six customers on its first day, to more than 80 members today. Over this time period, the mobile pantry has saved customers approximately £3,538, with customers reporting wanting to reduce food waste and living locally to the pantry stops as the most common reasons for using the pantry. Membership to the pantry costs £1 a year, and customers can choose either a ten item shop for £3.50, or 15 items for £5. 

One customer who uses the pantry said: “The pantry really helped me. I used to struggle getting to the local shop for essentials due to my mobility, and it’s saved me a lot of money.” 

After a break of service over the summer to set everything up properly, Share took over the day-to-day running of the pantry and took it out for the first time on 16 September, with Abri continuing to provide funding and the loan of the van.

Founded in 2020, Share has built a strong reputation across Wokingham and Bracknell for tackling food insecurity and reducing food waste, running across multiple sites, including a Saturday pop-up at Great Hollands Community Centre supported by Abri.

Thanks to grant funding through Bracknell Forest Council’s Household Support Fund, Share’s connections to other charities and supermarkets, and their ability to provide a dedicated service, the partnership will expand the reach of the pantry and offer a wider variety of food for its members. We'll continue to fund and remain involved in the running of the pantry, supporting Share to ensure its ongoing success.