Part of a National Network

FareShare National

FareShare UK (the community food network) is the national charity works with the food and drink industry to redistribute quality food and other related support services to a community food network of organisations working with disadvantaged people.

There are currently 12 FareShare schemes operating in partnership with local charities across the UK.

If you want to find out about the other members of the network click here.

The Need

Poor health among homeless people is just one of the side effects of living on the street or in basic, insecure accommodation. Research by the Royal College of Physicians has shown that at least three out of five people have no daily intake of fresh food and vegetables and will suffer from a range of illnesses, heart disease and tuberculosis.

FareShare is particularly pertinent in Brighton and Hove City, as due to various contributory factors, including an expensive overburdened housing stock, Brighton has one of the highest rates of homelessness per capita in Britain today, as well as serious levels of poverty and deprivation.

Why have a FareShare scheme?

Many day centres and homeless people cannot afford a regular supply of fresh food. At the same time, due to stringent company policies, food retailers and wholesalers are throwing away huge amounts. This waste frustrates many food suppliers, but they do not have the means to arrange and co-ordinate its distribution. Brighton and Hove FareShare helps to avoid the waste, whilst ensuring that those who are socially excluded have access to a more nutritious diet.

In addition much of the food we distribute would end up in landfill. This causes significant damage to the environment. One tonne of biodegradable food waste produces 200-400 cubic meters of gas. Of this gas, 64% is methane and 34% carbon dioxide with methane having a global warming potential 31 times greater than carbon dioxide.