FareShare Lancashire & Cumbria supplies millions of meals for communities across the North West. Known locally as the Food Redistribution Centre, it last year redistributed 1,200 tonnes of food, allowing its members to create around 2.8 million meals.

Now in its 10th year, it delivers food to 150+ groups ranging from grassroots charities like social supermarkets or food banks, as well as school breakfast clubs, lunch clubs, homeless shelters, and hospices. Its members make sure thousands of people don’t go hungry, while also preventing food from going to waste. 

The Centre’s work is supported by a team of 50+ volunteers, each giving their time and skills in return for support to develop skills, grow in confidence and meet new people. Many of the Centre’s volunteers progress into full-time employment thanks to their experience, including around 75% of the paid staff team having first started as volunteers. 

The Centre is part of the wider Recycling Lives Charity & Social Enterprise, which delivers other programmes including a Training Kitchen, community café and soup kitchen, as well as rehabilitation and residential programmes for people with histories of offending, addiction or homelessness. All the programmes work together to offer people skills, resources and opportunities to improve their lives. 

FareShare Lancashire & Cumbria is always keen to hear from people who’d like to volunteer – its volunteer range from school leavers and job seekers, to students and asylum seekers, to retired professionals and ex-Armed Forces personnel, as well as people completing treatment programmes or on working day-release from prison. It is also keen to work with new groups who would benefit from receiving food and other surplus items. 

To supply goods or make a donation, please contact FareShare Lancashire & Cumbria/the Food Redistribution Centre directly and ask for Laura. 

Voices from FareShare Lancashire & Cumbria…