North Devon charity receives crucial grant to support those facing food poverty

A charity in North Devon that supports people experiencing food poverty has received a much-needed grant. 

FareShare South West, which has been operating a Devon warehouse for the past two years, celebrated the award of a £1500 grant from Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme.

FareShare South West receives free surplus food from organisations such as Tesco and distributes it to local people to ensure families do not go without. 

With the cost-of-living crisis affecting more people, the charity's support has become increasingly critical. 

In the past year, 82 different Devon charities, schools, and community groups have received more than 488 tonnes of food from FareShare South West, equating to one point one million meals.

Lucy Bearn, Chief Executive at FareShare South West, said: “We are very grateful to Tesco for this funding. In recent years, FareShare South West has grown 500 percent in response to the demand from the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, so support from Tesco Stronger Starts grants have been essential.

“We support organisations in North Devon such as school breakfast clubs, community kitchens and homeless shelters, which provide wraparound support for people struggling to get by.

“With healthy food now over three times more expensive per calorie than unhealthy food, many families are unable to access enough fresh, nutritious ingredients to truly thrive.

“At the same time six million tonnes of perfectly good, quality food are still being sent to waste in the UK every year, creating a huge environmental impact.

“We source tonnes of good-to-eat surplus food from the industry and share it with over 400 charities, schools and community groups who alleviate poverty. Put simply, we turn an environmental problem into a social solution.”

The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, aims to support many community projects and good causes in North Devon in the coming years, with thousands of pounds to give away. 

Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We’re delighted that we can help groups and charities like FareShare South West. Stronger Starts invites our customers to use their blue tokens to vote for local schemes they feel will benefit children and young people, and it’s so good to see the impact that the funding makes.”

North Devon shoppers can support their local school and children’s groups by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.