Group of people wearing yellow high vis vests are gathered around a table laden with food. They are in a work kitchen environment and are all looking at the camera and smiling

Celebrating our incredible volunteers

Camaraderie, community, mental wellbeing and the chance to make a difference. These are just some of the reasons people volunteer at FareShare South West. 

The truth is, whatever keeps our volunteers coming back, we could not do what we do without them, and we couldn’t be more grateful to each and every person who gives their time and commitment to help us rescue and share good surplus food.  

These everyday heroes are the backbone of our work, from sorting and packing produce, to delivering in our communities, helping in the office to working behind the scenes. 

Without our crew of more than 350 volunteers, we wouldn’t have been able to rescue food for more than 4 million meals last year alone, making a difference in communities from Gloucester to Cornwall, and helping to end the injustice of who gets to access a healthy diet. 

While Volunteers’ Week is a great opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work of our wonderful volunteers, we appreciate the work they do every day of the year. 

A man and a woman, both wearing yellow high vis vests, smile at the camera. They are in a chiller with stacks of crates surrounding them

Building a community

Sam, Head of Employability and Volunteering at FareShare South West, said: “I am in awe of the volunteers at FareShare South West. At first, you see people who have selflessly given up their time to support our organisation, week in, week out, making sure our operations run and good food makes it on to tables around the south west.  

“However, when you look deeper, you see the community that has been built between those who wanted to learn various skills, meet new people and pass on good deeds to those they’ve never met. The friendships. It is hard to show just how grateful we are for every single volunteer we welcome through our hub doors, but we can try. Thank you!” 

Fittingly, we marked Volunteers’ Week here with some fabulous feasts.  

The team in our Plymouth Hub hosted a proper Devon afternoon tea, bringing our community of volunteers together for a special occasion. The group tucked into a spread boosted by generous donations from some our wonderful local suppliers, including pasties and sausage rolls from Cornwall Bakery, cakes and scones from Westcountry, and sandwiches from Tamar Fresh, all washed down with chilled apple juice from Luscombe. 

In Bristol, bad weather meant the two pot luck picnics were hosted inside the hubs, where our fabulous teams put on a delicious spread that included, among many other treats, homemade sourdough and flapjacks.  

Two women wearing orange high vis vests stand behind a man wearing a cream jacket and pink cap. They are next to a table with leftovers of a party food spread on it. There is a window to one side and walls with a framed print and large map behind them. All are smiling at the camera

Colin has been volunteering in our Plymouth Hub for two and a half years. He said: “The camaraderie here is brilliant, better than any job I’ve had before. 

“And knowing that I’m actually helping people when I’m out on the van delivering to people. You get those huge smiles on people’s faces and it makes it all worthwhile.” 

A man and a woman both smile at the camera. The man is waving a hand, which has a black support bandage on. Other people are int he background

Our CEO Lucy said: “I want to say a massive thank you to every single one of our volunteers across the south west that helps us save an inordinate amount of surplus food from going to waste and to send it out to communities and charities across the region. 

“Particularly as we’re going through a period of growth and change as a charity, your help is needed more than ever. Thank you so much for what you do.” 

Find out more about the volunteering opportunities we have available