FareShare Midlands combats food poverty in East Midlands as winter approaches
Thousands benefitting from redistributed surplus food
As winter descends on Leicester, Nottingham, and the East Midlands, FareShare Midlands tells us it's working tirelessly to address food poverty in the region.
Recent figures show that 76,600 children in Nottinghamshire live in poverty, while Nottingham City remains one of the most deprived local authorities in England.
They told us with the drop in temperatures and household budgets strained, many families in the area face tough choices regarding heating, essential bills, and food.
To alleviate these pressures, FareShare Midlands rescues thousands of tonnes of surplus food each year, sourced from supermarkets, farms, and food suppliers. This food is then redistributed to front-line charities and community organisations supporting families, children, and older residents.
FareShare Midlands now supplies enough food weekly for over 60,000 people, aiding 650 front-line organisations, including community centres, breakfast clubs, and homeless shelters—more than 300 are situated in the East Midlands.
Over the last year, the charity has saved 5,000 tonnes of good food, equivalent to 11 million meals, from being wasted. More than 70 dedicated staff and 300 volunteers sort and store the surplus food to ensure it reaches those who need it most.
Simone Connolly, CEO of FareShare Midlands, said: "Children are going into hospital more now than ever with rickets so it is critical what we do.
"The cost of living is not even a crisis anymore. It is the state of the nation and it is not going away. There are a million children across the Midlands living in poverty.
"Those households do not have enough money to buy essential things like food. As we approach winter, fuel costs are really high so we expect demand to rise even further," she said.