Many vulnerable people rely on surplus food for their main meal of the day, according to new research from FareShare.
Fifty-seven per cent of people using charities that rely on FareShare donations go there for their main meal, according to the findings compiled by NatCen Social Research, with 59% adding that these charities also provide them with access to more fresh fruit and veg, and 71% putting money they’re able to save as a result toward rent and bills.
“The report shows how important food is in enabling charities to provide meals but also other support to help people back on their feet,” said FareShare CEO Lindsay Boswell. “FareShare is supporting charities to provide hundreds of thousands of meals each week while at the same time increasing the number of clients using other services. Not only are these charities providing nutritious meals and much needed food, they are also providing life-changing support.”
More than 200,000 people currently rely on one of the 2,500 charities that benefit from FareShare’s help, the report adds, with 81% saying this support allows them to eat more hot meals and 82% feeling more integrated into their communities.
Previous research by NatCen also found that if charities had to replace the food they currently receive from FareShare, it would represent an additional yearly cost of approximately £7,900 per charity. In a sector where funding is already stretched, 19% of charities surveyed said they would definitely or probably close altogether without the support.
“Given the continuing budgetary constraints faced by many organisations in the public and voluntary sectors, the need for FareShare’s services is only likely to grow over the coming years,” added Boswell. “We therefore need more companies to get on board and do the right thing with their surplus food and work with us to help charities feed people.”
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