Food charities to get £16 million to procure supplies

The government has announced up to £16 million for food charities to support their efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The programme will provide millions of meals over the next 12 weeks and be delivered through charities including FareShare and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme).

The funding will be in addition to the support provided to these charities by the food industry.

“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. 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,” Environment Secretary George Eustice said.

The funding is part of the £750 million pot announced by the chancellor for frontline charities. At least 5,000 of them in England are expected to benefit from the latest package.

Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) has earlier coordinated the industry support to food charities, with supermarkets, hospitality businesses, wholesalers, smaller retailers, suppliers and manufacturers making significant donations in response to the outbreak.

“We welcome this support from Defra to obtain vital food supplies, on top of the generosity already shown by the UK food industry,” commented Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of Fareshare.

“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 that are doing the humbling work of getting meals to very vulnerable people during this crisis.”