asda fareshare

  • The support will be co-ordinated by groups including FareShare and Wrap

  • Environment secretary George Eustice said about 5,000 English charities would benefit from the funding

 

The government has announced £16m in funding to support food redistribution charities tackling hunger during the coronavirus crisis.

Environment secretary George Eustice announced the support on Friday. It will be co-ordinated by groups including FareShare and Wrap.

The money will be used to buy food direct from supermarkets and other food suppliers to provide millions of meals over the next 12 weeks. It comes on top of the food programme already being co-ordinated by FareShare and the IGD, which The Grocer revealed last month was struggling to hit its target due to the huge demand from vulnerable groups.

Eustice said about 5,000 English charities would benefit from the funding, which is part of a £750m pot announced by the Chancellor for frontline charities across the UK during the outbreak.

“During this difficult time our frontline food charities are doing brilliant work amid a significant increase in demand - working in refuges, drop-in services, homeless centres and other places,” Eustice said.

“It is absolutely vital they have the resources they need and this funding will help the most vulnerable in our society get the food they need at this enormously challenging time.”

FareShare CEO Lindsay Boswell said: “We welcome this support from Defra to obtain vital food supplies, on top of the generosity already shown by the UK food industry. This will enable us to continue to supply much-needed food and drink to the many thousands of frontline charities and community groups across England.

“We want to make clear that this funding will only be used for the procurement of food and drink and that our own running costs are funded through other gratefully received charitable donations.

“We have seen the generosity of the food industry who have stepped up to donate food and logistical support to help us do this, and government has now come in to play its part alongside. If businesses or local authorities wish to join our efforts in the fight against hunger and food waste, be they in food, logistics or have fleets, we urge them to get in touch with us today.”

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