A new £500,000 fund for charities is being launched today (21 December) to support the redistribution of quality surplus food to people in need, throughout England.
Latest evidence shows that 47,000 tonnes of surplus food were re-distributed in 2015. WRAP estimates this could increase fourfold by 2025.
The Food Waste Reduction Fund, which will be administered by sustainability experts WRAP, will support local projects to help increase redistribution in communities. The £500,000 fund will be open to organisations who redistribute food, and to charities who receive and share food with people in need.
“We all need to work together to reduce UK food waste and I would like to see more action, including additional financial support, from businesses across the food sector to prevent food waste occurring.”
Further details about how to apply will be available on the WRAP website in 2018, when the fund opens for applications. The money will help these organisations to overcome common barriers such as:
- Training and education – from frontline staff to IT
- Infrastructure support – for necessary equipment such as new vehicles to transport more types of food
- Forming collaborative partnerships – help joining up with appropriate partners
- Communication, logistics and technology – to facilitate effective redistribution
Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “Wherever food surplus cannot be prevented, it should be used to feed people rather than go to waste.
“I welcome this new fund to support the valuable work of food redistribution charities and the contribution they make.
“We all need to work together to reduce UK food waste and I would like to see more action, including additional financial support, from businesses across the food sector to prevent food waste occurring.”
Peter Maddox, director WRAP said: “We are pleased to announce this new fund to ensure that surplus food gets to more people in need. This will complement the redistribution work we’re already doing with the food and drink industry through the Courtauld Commitment 2025. We look forward to receiving expressions of interest in 2018.”