FareShare West Yorkshire is a franchise of the national charity which helps relieve food poverty. They redistribute surplus & donated food to around 30 member organisations who feed vulnerable people who have limited access to food and good nutrition. This franchise is operated by the award winning social enterprise CREATE, which is committed to developing innovative training and employment opportunities for former rough sleepers and vulnerable or marginalised adults.

How FareShare Works:

FareShare West Yorkshire receives surplus food from food manufacturers and producers (nationally and locally) which is ‘fit for purpose' and well within date. It comes into their food redistribution warehouse which has facilities to store ambient, chilled and frozen goods and is then delivered across the region to non-profit organisations working with underprivileged groups, such as elderly aid groups, homeless shelters, hostels, women's refuges and breakfast clubs. Organisations who take food pay a nominal membership fee.

The need being addressed:

Around 4 million people in the UK experience food poverty, meaning that they cannot afford, or find it difficult to access affordable and nutritional food (Joseph Rowntree Foundation). The Food Standards Agency Low Income and Diet survey (2007) reported that 5% of those on the lowest incomes had skipped meals for a whole day. 29% of the lowest income households are classed as food insecure, meaning that they worry about food running out before their money runs out. PAFRAS research in 2009 concluded that inadequate food intake causes low energy levels, weakness, sleep disturbance, and a depressed immune system leading to increased illness as well as long term physical damage and mental impairment.

Can FareShare help you?

FareShare would like to talk to you about delivering quality surplus food where it is needed, to help tackle food poverty.

If you are interested in being a community member and recipient of donated FareShare food call 0113 394 6122 or email charlie.wilkinson@createleeds.org 

Find out more on the FareShare West Yorkshire website and read more about FareShare in this Yorkshire Evening Post article.

Poverty and Homelessness and Volunteering

FareShare is one of many organisations in Leeds tackling poverty and homelessness and using volunteers to support their work. And as part of European Year of Volunteering 2011 in Leeds Poverty and Homelessness is one of the themes.