From Beats to Eats: How surplus food from festivals is fighting waste and hunger

Ahhh, British festivals… the promise of a sun-drenched weekend dancing among a carefree crowd, soon replaced by the reality of a waterlogged mess and fears of trench foot. Yes, get your wellies ready, as it’s nearly that time again. Food vendors will be trying their best to predict how popular their stalls will be, an unenviable task considering the myriad variables they face. Last year, for instance, we attended a festival that had to be shut down for a few hours due to a massive thunderstorm. With so much uncertainty, it’s understandable that vendors might bring more food than they need, resulting in a surplus by the end of the weekend.

That’s where Oxford Food Hub comes in. We collect from numerous festivals throughout the summer, saving over seven tonnes of surplus food last year alone! OFH volunteers visit each vendor over the course of the weekend to ensure they know not to throw any surplus food away. We return shortly after the festival has closed to collect the surplus food and bring it back to our warehouses.

But the good work doesn’t stop there. We use this food to support over 200 different charities and community groups across Oxfordshire. Free, fresh food means that amazing organisations offering vital services to vulnerable people can focus more of their spending on their core impact areas. Surplus food is saved from going to waste, and it’s supporting charities doing incredible things… it’s a win-win! If you spot one of our volunteers at a local festival this summer, please do come and chat to us.

If you want to be part of our Festival Volunteering Team, contact: admin@oxfordfoodhub.org