About Fareshare sussex
Fareshare Sussex: Redistributing Surplus Food to Help Vulnerable People
Fareshare Sussex is a charity project that aims to tackle food waste and food poverty in Brighton & Sussex. The organisation works with local businesses in the food industry, such as supermarkets, wholesalers, and manufacturers, to collect surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. This surplus food is then redistributed to organisations working with vulnerable people in the community.
The idea behind Fareshare Sussex is simple yet powerful: by rescuing good quality surplus food from the supply chain and redistributing it to those who need it most, we can reduce both hunger and waste at the same time. The project was launched in 2013 as a partnership between Brighton & Hove Food Partnership and FareShare UK, a national charity network that operates across the UK.
Since its inception, Fareshare Sussex has grown significantly thanks to the support of local businesses and volunteers. The organisation now collects around 50 tonnes of surplus food every month from over 100 donors across Brighton & Sussex. This includes fresh produce such as fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products, bakery items, canned goods and more.
The collected surplus food is then distributed through a network of over 100 partner organisations working with vulnerable people in different ways. These include homeless shelters, community centres for refugees and asylum seekers, mental health charities supporting people living with depression or anxiety disorders or other mental health issues; children's centres providing meals for families on low incomes; hospices caring for terminally ill patients; schools offering breakfast clubs or after-school snacks; among others.
Fareshare Sussex's impact on reducing hunger cannot be overstated. In fact according to their website "In 2020/21 we redistributed enough good quality surplus food for our partners across Brighton & Hove alone (excluding Eastbourne) which equates roughly £1 million worth of retail value." By providing access to nutritious meals, the organisation helps vulnerable people to maintain their health and wellbeing, while also reducing the financial burden of food costs.
But Fareshare Sussex's impact goes beyond just reducing hunger. By rescuing surplus food from the supply chain, the organisation is also helping to reduce food waste and its associated environmental impacts. Food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, as it generates methane when it decomposes in landfill sites. By redistributing surplus food instead of sending it to landfill, Fareshare Sussex is helping to reduce these emissions and promote a more sustainable approach to food production and consumption.
Fareshare Sussex relies on the support of volunteers who help with collecting, sorting and distributing surplus food. The organisation welcomes volunteers from all walks of life who are passionate about tackling hunger and waste in their community. Volunteers can get involved in various ways such as driving vans for collections or deliveries; sorting through donations at our warehouse; packing boxes for distribution; or even cooking meals using donated ingredients.
In conclusion, Fareshare Sussex is an inspiring charity project that demonstrates how simple actions can have a big impact on reducing hunger and waste in our communities. By working with local businesses, volunteers and partner organisations, they are making a real difference in people's lives while promoting sustainability at the same time. If you're looking for ways to get involved or support this amazing project please visit their website https://faresharesussex.org.uk/