FareShare North East is the largest food redistribution charity operating in the North East
We work in partnership with the UK's largest food redistribution charity, FareShare, to source and redistribute quality, good-to-eat surplus food, which would otherwise have gone to waste. We are fighting food insecurity and tackling food waste one step at a time by turning an environmental problem into a social solution.
As well as the food, the organisations we supply food to provide vital support to those who are vulnerable and facing economic hardship. Find out more about the problem of food waste and hunger.
We Are The North East
Each weekday we receive fresh, in date and good-to-eat surplus food from the food industry that goes straight out to those who require it most in the region.
The food arrives into our warehouse where it is sorted, stored and then packed into deliveries by our team of staff and volunteers. This food is then redistributed to over 200 charities and community groups located in the north east of England. Our vans travel all the way up to Alnwick, down to Middlesbrough, across to Hexham and back over to Newcastle.
We provide food to community centres, children’s breakfast/school holiday clubs, homeless shelters, women’s charities and many more, who then turn it into delicious and nutritious food for vulnerable people in the region.
How It Works
We Receive Good-To-Eat Surplus Food...
Did you know that 3.6 million tonnes of food is wasted by the food industry each year? And that 250,000 tonnes of that food is perfectly good-to-eat!
By working with the FareShare network we are able to save quality surplus food from going to waste and feed the population who are most vulnerable in the north east. In the North East this is nearly 2000 tonnes per year, and is expected to rise year by year!
Our Volunteers Prepare Food Deliveries…
We receive multiple deliveries of food from our suppliers at our warehouse every day which our team of volunteers and staff help to book in and store. Our warehouse volunteers then pick and pack deliveries ready to be sent out the next day to charities and community groups across the region.
And Distribute It To Over 200 Charities And Community groups...
Our van drivers and assistants then deliver the food to over 200 charities and community groups across the North East. We normally deliver to over 20 locations each day!
Community groups can sign up to receive weekly orders of food from us to cover their main food needs.
Who Turn The Food Into Nutritious Meals For Thousands Of Vulnerable People!
In one year we provided enough surplus food for approximately 2.5 million meals. The organisations we support provide vital services alongside food services and with their FareShare North East membership, they are able to save money and re-invest funds into other areas of their charity to further support vulnerable individuals.
Find out more in Our Impact.
Nearly 4,000,000 Meals For Vulnerable People In 2020
Back in March 2020, FareShare North East began the Covid-19 Emergency Response, as a result of the UK national lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. The demand for our services rose by 64%, but with the 400% rise in surplus food coming into the warehouse, we were able to support over 240 charities and community groups with 200 tonnes of food during the pandemic. In total, in 2020 were distributed 1645 tonnes of surplus food, which is enough for nearly 4 million meals for vulnerable people! This could not have been possible without the help of our amazing volunteers and donations from our supporters. In 2021, the amount of people we supported has risen by 8,000 to over 34,000.
