14 July 2025
31 tonnes of leftover food rescued from Grand Prix
Towcester and Roade Community Larders have once again stepped up to save surplus food from the British Grand Prix, successfully rescuing over 31 tonnes of leftover food and drink. The initiative, now in its fourth year, ensures that a wide range of unused food items are diverted from waste bins and instead offered to local residents through pop-up events in South Northamptonshire.
Dedicated volunteers loaded the food onto vans late into the night, some finishing as late as 1:30am on Monday. Efforts continued all week with several more collections up until Wednesday evening, ensuring every last thing was saved. Distribution was over 4 days, with various pop up sessions and over 40 volunteers involved.
Eggs and other food was shared with other Larders and Foodbank organisations via the FAAWN (Food Aid Alliance West Northants) Network, ensuring the wider community benefit from this surplus.
The rescued food included fruit, vegetables, pastries, eggs, and even exotic items like salsify and moolis.
Around 600 people benefited from the food rescue last year, illustrating the community’s appreciation and need for such initiatives.
Silverstone Circuit’s cooperation has been crucial, as they strive to minimize waste for this event, hosting over 500,000 people. The partnership ensures that any surplus food can be effectively redistributed, benefiting both the environment and the local community.
The Towcester and Roade Community Larders aim to reduce food waste and support independent living by providing surplus food to their members. Members pay a small subscription to access the Larder food, helping to sustain the initiative and promote food security locally. Donations received during the Silverstone pop ups are utilised to continue the School Bags of Support programme, which supports referred families over the school holidays.