{"id":2676,"date":"2025-12-24T10:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T10:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/?p=2676"},"modified":"2026-02-24T17:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T17:18:40","slug":"olio-stories-free-teaching-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/olio-stories\/olio-stories-free-teaching-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"How free teaching resources inspired a preschool community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Karen, a preschool manager, first downloaded the Olio app, she was simply curious about reducing waste and finding useful items locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She didn\u2019t expect it to become a source of free teaching resources that would transform her preschool\u2019s learning environment \u2013 and help stretch its limited budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While browsing the app, Karen spotted a vintage phone. Instead of seeing clutter, she saw opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;<em>It&#8217;s really brilliant for the children to have real life items, but naturally I don&#8217;t want to go to Argos and buy a 40 quid phone if I can potentially get stuff like that for free off Olio whilst also helping to prevent waste.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That one item sparked an idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Soon, Karen was regularly using the Olio app to source free classroom resources and real-life objects to support children\u2019s learning. Envelopes for letter-writing activities. Phones for numeracy exercises. Books for arts and crafts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By finding free teaching resources locally, she was able to enhance children\u2019s development while saving money for the preschool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;<em>It&#8217;s just amazing seeing the joy and excitement from the children who are using the resources that I&#8217;ve managed to get and of course it helps stretch the preschool&#8217;s limited budget too.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"870\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/06\/Untitled-design-14-870x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2681\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/06\/Untitled-design-14-870x1024.jpg 870w, https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/06\/Untitled-design-14-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/06\/Untitled-design-14-768x904.jpg 768w, https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/06\/Untitled-design-14-1306x1536.jpg 1306w, https:\/\/olioapp.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2023\/06\/Untitled-design-14.jpg 1700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 870px) 100vw, 870px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From free resources to free food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within weeks, Karen took things further and signed up as a <a href=\"https:\/\/help.olioapp.com\/en\/articles\/12277114-what-is-a-food-waste-hero-and-how-do-i-get-started\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Food Waste Hero<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She began collecting surplus food from a local Tesco and redistributing it through the app. Not only did this reduce food waste, it also supported families in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Karen encouraged parents to explore the surplus food section of the Olio app and to share clothes and items their children had outgrown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;I often share some of the food from my collections with the parents and staff. They\u2019d ask where it\u2019s coming from and I\u2019d explain &#8211; they think it\u2019s amazing.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What started as a search for free teaching resources became something much bigger: community support, food sharing and stronger local connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Favourite thing about Olio?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;<em>Enabling the children to experience those real life objects, to enhance their play, further their development, and generally engage them throughout their learning.<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Favourite Olio item?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;I picked up an exercise bike, which is just great &#8211; I couldn\u2019t believe an item like that was being shared for free!<\/em>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why this story matters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Olio is a practical way to find free classroom resources and everyday items that might otherwise go to waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For preschools, schools and families working with tight budgets, free teaching resources can make a real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes an unwanted item isn\u2019t just clutter, but items that might inspire the next generation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Karen, a preschool manager, first downloaded the Olio app, she was simply curious about reducing waste and finding useful&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2679,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-olio-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How free teaching resources inspired a preschool community - Olio | At Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for free teaching resources? 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