FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations. They take good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and get it to nearly 10,000 frontline charities and community groups.

FareShare takes food from the food industry that can’t be sold in shops, either because of packaging errors, a short shelf life or overproduction. That food is redistributed through a network of nearly 10,000 frontline organisations, across the UK such as homeless hostels, school breakfast clubs, domestic violence refuges, older people’s lunch clubs, food banks and hospices.

Over the last year, FareShare supplied the equivalent of 303,400 meals in to 18 local charities in Manchester Withington, by supplying them with 127.4 tonnes of food.

Charities like FareShare are critical during the cost of living crisis. 9.9 million people were experiencing food insecurity in April, representing a 57% jump in the proportion of households cutting back on food or missing meals altogether since January. Redistributing surplus food not only feeds people, but reduces carbon emissions and is cheaper for the taxpayer long-term.   

Despite this, and despite two EFRA committee recommendations, FareShare’s government funding has been cut. Calls for their funding renewal had been ignored so far.

I support FareShare’s work and their bid for full funding from the government to ensure they can continue their valuable role.