General Mills supports expansion of employability scheme at Fareshare

FareShare Merseyside has expanded its New Horizons employability scheme, formally launching a new training centre, representing a significant expansion to the programme, thanks to ongoing support and funding from General Mills.

As the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste, FareShare operates a nationwide employability programme that helps to equip people with the skills and knowledge they need to gain and maintain work. It aims to provide employment opportunities to people enrolled in the programme and those supported by charities and community groups that receive food from FareShare, connecting jobseekers with employment opportunities across the food and hospitality sectors.

General Mills UK is one of FareShare’s leading supporters, having worked with the charity since 2013.

“We are enormously grateful to all those involved in funding this project. The new site will enable us to deliver training and coaching and one-to-one and group support sessions for 100 people on our flagship employability programme over the next two years,” Kris Gibbon-Walsh, chief operating officer at FareShare, said.

“Addressing one of the root causes of poverty – lack of income – our programmes support people into good, sustainable work, via services that help individuals maximise their strengths and overcome barriers to employment, ultimately transforming lives and strengthening communities to benefit all.”

Jonathan Bennett, director of external relations at General Mills, added: “General Mills has long been a dedicated supporter of FareShare and this year we are on track to donate more food than ever before. Through our partnership with FareShare we have been able to minimise food waste and deliver surplus food to where there is need in communities across the country; we are very proud to support the incredible work that FareShare does to tackle hunger, food waste and poverty.

“As funders of New Horizons, we were delighted to be there for the opening of this new training centre, and see first-hand how the programme delivers training, employment and tangible, meaningful change in Merseyside.”