Supporting Local Community Fridge Initiative

Friday 13th February 2026

The Trade Centre UK ambassadors have been busy supporting communities across the West Midlands, continuing their commitment to meaningful local engagement.

The most recent project is Dottie’s Community Fridge, run from the Dorothy Parks Community Centre.

Trade Centre ambassador Mike Doyle visited Christine Murray at the centre as part of The Trade Centre Group’s community engagement programme. Dottie’s Community Fridge has recently celebrated its first anniversary and has quickly become an invaluable local resource, redistributing surplus food to those who need it most.

Speaking to Mike during the visit, Christine explained the motivation behind setting up the project:

“There is a real need across the West Midlands, and at the same time a lot of surplus food. We wanted to make sure food goes to bellies, not bins.”

Since launching, Dottie’s Community Fridge has redistributed an impressive 5.8 tonnes of food — the equivalent weight of four small cars — helping individuals and families across the local and wider community.

Mike presented the donation during the visit, with Christine highlighting the impact it will have on the project:

“For a small project like ours, this amount of money makes a huge difference. It’s a real game changer. Thank you to The Trade Centre.”

Mark Bailey, Founder and Director of The Trade Centre Group, also shared his support for the initiative:

“Dottie’s Community Fridge is a brilliant example of how grassroots projects can make a real, tangible difference. Supporting initiatives like this is exactly what our community programme is about — helping local people, reducing waste, and backing organisations that are doing outstanding work on the ground.”