How does membership work?

We've tried to keep things simple:

• Every address can apply for a Household Account on our standard tier to access our services by completing the membership form below.
• The person applying for the account is designated the Lead Member.
• The Lead Member can designate up to two Linked Members, who must live at the same address, or a carer* to collect food on behalf of the household.
• Everyone must provide proof of address for themselves and any Linked Members when they sign up. Proof of address can be a driving licence, a council tax bill, or a utility bill.

Please let us know if you have a carer; we recognise that arrangements with carers can be both formal and informal. To qualify as a carer in this scenario, the person receiving care will have a condition that makes it difficult for them to manage daily tasks independently, such as an illness, disability, or mental health problem.

If you are unable to complete the membership form online, please call in to the Community Fridge during opening hours, where someone will be able to assist you.

Two tiers of membership: Standard and Supported

Standard Tier - open to everyone

Our Standard Membership is open to every household living in Mid Bedfordshire and offers the following:

• Access to our standard sessions (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, plus use by sessions)
• Access to our core offer, which includes fruit, vegetables, bread, and cakes.
• Limited access to chilled and frozen items in return for a donation per item (all items are marked).

Please note that there is a suggested minimum donation of £1 per visit, in addition to specific donations made for frozen, chilled, or ambient items as marked.

Supported Tier - open to households on a low income or needing additional help

Our new Supported Membership is open to households in the Mid Bedfordshire constituency who are on a low income and/or struggling to eat well because of the cost-of-living crisis and offers the following:

• Access to standard sessions
• Access to our dedicated supported tier session on Wednesday mornings (begins 23rd July 2025) between 09:30 and 11:30, which includes:

         *Priority access to chilled and frozen food

         *Toiletries

         *Limited store cupboard items

• Exclusion from paying donations on any food items or making a minimum donation

Anyone declaring that they need additional support or is in receipt of Universal Credit. Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Tax Credits (Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit), Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support will qualify for this tier. Access to this membership tier is reviewed annually, and we will ask you to provide evidence that you qualify when you join confidentially.

Please note: Our volunteers can only see the membership tier of the household account and have no access to any confidential information. All volunteers have undergone data protection training, and any information you provide will be kept in the strictest confidence.  Your information will be used for monitoring purposes only and will not be shared with any third party.