Community kitchens, food banks, shelters and cookery projects across the country are all set to receive food through these organisations thanks to the grant scheme. Every year, an estimated 330,000 tonnes of edible food is either wasted or repurposed as animal feed before leaving farm gates.
Waste Minister Mary Creagh said: “This Government’s Plan for Change is acting on food poverty and tackling Britain’s throwaway culture, ensuring more good food ends up on plates and not in bins. I am delighted to see this support go to 12 outstanding redistribution charities to form closer relationships with our hard-working farmers, and ensure their good food goes to those in need.”
Successful redistribution organisations who applied for funding through the grants include:
- City Harvest a food charity which rescues surplus food and delivers it to more than 130,000 people a week, which will benefit from more than £303,000.
- A consortium bid led by FareShare UK and its network partners, including Felix Project, which will receive more than £9.2 million
- Food in Community, based in Devon, which have secured more than £1.5 million to partner with local farmers and food producers to redistribute surplus food.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh chief executive of FareShare and Charlotte Hill chief executive of The Felix Project, said: “This scheme will enable us to rescue more surplus from farms across England. It will ensure the charities we support, including after-school clubs, homelessness shelters, and community groups, can access thousands of tonnes of fresh produce and transform it into meals and vital support to those who need it most.
“With demand for food at an all-time high, this scheme will significantly increase the amount of fresh, nutritious produce whilst decreasing food waste on our farms. We look forward to working with Government, businesses and frontline charities to deliver this programme and support people in need across the UK.”