Freemasons to host Worthing Community Food Hub for further year

1. Charmandean Centre Manager Trevor England with UKHarvest’s Nigel Boshein, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager.

placeholder image — 1. Charmandean Centre Manager Trevor England with UKHarvest’s Nigel Boshein, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager.

The Worthing Community Food Hub at the Charmandean Centre is set to continue for another year, thanks to the ongoing support of West Sussex Freemasons. The hub is a collaborative initiative between UKHarvest and West Sussex County Council (WSCC), aimed at tackling food waste and food insecurity across the county. West Sussex Freemasons support the scheme by providing the use of the Charmandean Centre free of charge.

Designed to make a practical difference in the local community, the Food Hub offers residents the opportunity to enjoy a tea or coffee before collecting a selection of rescued food items. The food, which would otherwise go to waste, is sourced from supermarkets, farms and local businesses and redistributed to those who need it most.

As the first year of monthly Food Hubs at the Charmandean draws to a close, West Sussex Freemasons have confirmed that the venue will remain available at no cost until April 2027, ensuring the continuation of this vital community service.

In addition to food distribution, a range of local support services attend the hub, offering advice and information. Previous sessions have included representatives from the Alzheimer's Society, West Sussex Mind, LEAP, Meals on Wheels, West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and the NHS, among others.

Volunteers at the Worthing Community Food Hub preparing rescued food for distribution.

The partnership between West Sussex County Council and UKHarvest forms part of a wider commitment to reducing food waste while ensuring residents have access to affordable, nutritious food. In the three months leading up to Christmas, the programme delivered 70 Community Food Hubs across West Sussex. Each hub redistributes between 1,070 and 1,190 meals’ worth of food to an average of 50 attendees, supporting households totalling up to 200 people.

Trevor England, Centre Manager at the Charmandean Centre, said:

“As Freemasons we are pleased to be hosting the UKHarvest Community Food Hub at the Charmandean Centre for a further year. Working to support our local communities is at the heart of everything that Freemasonry stands for.”

Quotes from Alex Street, Senior Project Officer at WSCC, and Nigel Boshein, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager at UKHarvest, are expected to be confirmed prior to publication.

The next Worthing Community Food Hub will take place on Thursday 19 March from 10am to 11am at the Charmandean Centre and will continue monthly until April 2027.

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