Cut Food Waste and Feed the Community

Can you give up some time to help FareShare - the UK’s biggest charity tackling food waste for social good? FareShare works with the food industry, taking good to eat surplus food, that would otherwise go to waste, and delivering it to a network of 8,500 charities across the UK.

However, charities across the FareShare network are experiencing unprecedented levels of demand for support. Demand for food has skyrocketed and FareShare is in urgent need of more volunteers to help get food to the people and communities that need it.

FareShare Southern Central is based in Southampton and delivers surplus food to more than 85 charities and community groups each week, including schools, youth clubs, community centres, refuges, homelessness shelters and faith groups. The team covers an area that stretches from East Devon to West Sussex, including Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. They work with local charities and groups to run 30 mobile larders each week, offering an essential service to communities across the region.

Daniel Barrass, Regional Centre Volunteer Manager, says: "We quite simply could not do what we do without our volunteers, they are absolutely essential in our mission to tackle food insecurity and food waste"

"Our volunteering is flexible, fun and fulfilling! No matter your background, skills or experience, we find a role for everyone who wants to get involved" 

Approximately 80 people volunteer for FareShare Southern Central each week at its warehouse in Totton. Each one plays a vital role in getting food to the people that need it at the same time as tackling food waste. The volunteers all say that as well as giving something back, they benefit enormously from their time at FareShare. Volunteers make new friends, learn new skills and enjoy a sense of camaraderie that they liken to being a big family.

Volunteers are crucial in keeping operations running smoothly and the team are urgently in need of more van drivers and drivers’ mates to deliver food to charities and larders, as well as more warehouse assistants to pick and pack the orders, and admin volunteers to help behind the scenes.  Anyone over 18 can volunteer, all that is required is a regular full or half day commitment and a UK driving license for van drivers. Visit www.fareshare.org.uk/volunteer to sign up. 

FareShare are also keen to get more businesses involved with supplying food that would otherwise go to waste.

Daniel Leite, Food Sourcing Officer, explains: “At FareShare we rescue both large and small volumes of food from producers, suppliers and growers across the South, and what an impact they make to incredible local charities!

"As well as working with bigger, national retailers, we are partners with dozens of local suppliers to help them reduce their food waste and support the people that live and work on their doorstep…. with positive impacts not only economically but also in environmental and sustainable terms.”