Local independent charity FareShare South West aims to rescue and share food to transform thousands more lives, by moving to an exciting expanded hub.

Over 4.6 million tonnes of good to eat food is wasted every single year by the UK food industry: enough for 10 billion meals.

Meanwhile, over a million people in the south west face deepening food insecurity, with lasting impact on their health and wellbeing. The picture is particularly bleak for families, with 19% of children across Devon and 23% in Cornwall are living in poverty, rising to 42% in parts of Plymouth.

FareShare South West works directly with farmers, producers and retailers from Riverford Organics to Trewithen Dairy to rescue their nutritious, in-date surplus from going to waste and share it with a network of over 340 local charities, schools and community groups. This vital network offers dignity and routes out of poverty for thousands of local people.

But charities like ours rescue less than 1% of the good-to-eat food that goes to waste in our food system.

We need to do more. And to do more, we need more space.

FareShare South West’s warehouse in Plymouth officially launched in 2022. Our plan was to reach a milestone of food for 1 million meals in the first 36 months. We reached it in eight.

Why? Because the need keeps on growing.

Listen to FareShare South West’s Shelley Wright talking with Dr Clare Pettinger, Associate Professor in Public Health Dietetics, about the reality:

Visitors to the warehouse in Sisna Park, Estover are often amazed at the idea that such a small space can turn over as many as 60 tonnes of food in just one month – enough food for over 140,000 meals. But the cramped conditions are a challenge, and prevent us from taking in and sharing more food for those who need it most.

FareShare South West CEO Lucy Bearn said: “Our Plymouth team of staff and volunteers work incredibly hard, and are making a colossal difference to local people every day. Now, we need to provide them with a space that befits that work. Relocating the operation to a warehouse over three times the size will mean we can connect with more local food suppliers, rescuing the good food they’ve worked hard to grow and create: everything from fresh and fruit and veg to dairy, eggs and frozen meat. It’ll allow us to share vital healthy, nutritious food to thousands more people across Devon and Cornwall, including in hard-to-reach areas, with support to gain vital skills like cooking from scratch. It’ll create opportunities for people to thrive, through a new employability programme and supported volunteering.

“We don’t want to be so needed. Our vision is a future where no food is wasted and all people can thrive. But until that time, we’ll be here, championing food justice and making a real impact on people’s lives.”