Yum! The art of opening doors…

Yum! was our first FoodSavers outlet in Leeds. Fran Graham, manager at Armley Action Team (who run Yum!), shares more.

“We’re proudly the first Leeds group to join the Food Savers Network, and it’s made us reflect on good collaborators and mentors.

FoodSavers started in Bradford, a genius idea that is radically simple. It took the idea of a Food Pantry, where people can buy subsidised food, and added a garnish to transform the recipe – saving with a Credit Union. It wasn’t only about access to affordable food, which is essential in areas like Armley. It was about helping people who are feeling the pinch, and who are more concerned with finding the money to pay for tonight’s tea, to save a little, to be less hand-to-mouth.

The team at FoodSavers want people to have dignity and choice, and that’s what drove the FoodSavers idea: you choose your food, you pay a small membership fee, and you get £1 of what you have spent back again – via a Credit Union savings account. The sign up rates for FoodSavers are superb, because it’s a no brainer, and because it’s no effort to set up a savings account. In Bradford, it has enabled thousands of people to build up savings. In fact, across the city tens of thousands of pounds have been saved, stored, and used when life throws people a curve ball. If you have a little put aside, you have more options in a crisis. If you have more options, you have more dignity, and that is priceless!

When we heard that FoodSavers was expanding into Calderdale and Leeds, we wanted to get involved as soon as possible and bring it to Armley.

The FoodSavers Network gives you a model to work with, but there’s plenty of room to adapt it to what communities need on your own patch. The FoodSavers team supported us with training, templates, advice, and hands-on help – that they’re still giving us. They walked us through the planning stages, and they walked with us when we opened, even delivering surplus to our pantry in Armley, and helping on our first day with new members. They made a daunting thing very easy to achieve, whilst giving us the same level of dignity and choice as they want us to give back to people walking through our door.

The FoodSavers team encourage us, coach us, but also let us learn, adapt and grow into what we’re doing. They’re very positive about what we’ve achieved, but we know that the knowledge they have shared with us – distilled into two training sessions – and the trust they have built with Leeds City Credit Union, is doing all the heavy lifting. We’re on their coat-tails and that’s just fine! It means we can stay working on the system, and getting on top of the day to day. It means we can make sure everyone who comes into the pantry feels comfortable, safe and welcome.

It’s a gift.

Holding doors open to people is important. But it’s so much better if you have someone walking through it with you.”

Yum!’s launch marks a significant stride towards empowering the residents and supporting the Armley community particularly those facing economic hardship. The initiative’s impact extends beyond providing food: it uplifts spirits, creates connections, and reinforces a sense of togetherness within the community.

Members of the Armley Action Team express their delight at witnessing the positive changes brought about by Yum!’s Community Fridge and Pantry. The success is a testament to the collaborative efforts between Armley Action Team and FoodSavers, demonstrating how grass roots initiatives can bring about meaningful change. By addressing immediate needs, fostering sustainability, and nurturing community bonds, Yum! has become a pivotal pillar of support laying foundations for a stronger more resilient community.