FareShare NI – sorting your surplus food to frontline charities
Surplus food is a side effect of the grocery industry, particularly as an increasing number of retailers grow their in-store deli counters and food to go offerings. While councils are addressing the issue within their waste collections, FareShare NI is dedicated to getting this surplus food to those in need.
Established 30 years ago in London by Crisis, FareShare’s aim is to fight hunger and tackle food poverty by redistributing surplus food to those who need it most. Council for the Homeless NI took the franchise to Northern Ireland and it has been operating here since 2010, with the first surplus food delivered in the charity project in February 2011.
Council for the Homeless NI was the umbrella group for the homelessness sector in Northern Ireland, which has since rebranded to Homeless Connect over three years ago and is now the delivery partner for FareShare in Northern Ireland.
Homeless Connect is the representational body of the homelessness sector. They work collaboratively to create a community of support, by being the voice of the sector and by delivering direct assistance to those in need through their projects.
In 2010 it was identified by one of the employees that nobody was dealing with the redistribution of food here, and after some negotiation an agreement was put in place, with Declan McKillop and Simon Geddis (of Avondale Foods) employed to set it up.
As Declan, who is the Head of Operations at Homeless Connect, explained to NR, the organisation is two-pronged: tackling food poverty and dealing with environmental issues.
“727 tonnes were delivered across our network of charities, schools and community groups last year. Their service users include those experiencing homelessness, people on low or no income, children and young people, older people, and those with physical and mental health issues,” said Declan.
“A lot of it is word of mouth, people see others benefiting from the food redistribution and know of others who could also benefit from it and it goes from there.”
Following a multitude of issues over the last three to four years – notably covid, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis – FareShare NI has seen a significant increase in the usage of FareShare food in that time, with the biggest increase in the children’s age group.
“Up to 40% of our charities are dealing with children. That includes schools doing breakfast clubs or after-school clubs. There are schools inviting parents in after school in the evenings when everyone leaves to collect food of their choice to take home and feed their children,” said Declan.
“That is not just in larger areas like Belfast, but in many rural areas across Northern Ireland. With the backing of retailers and their food, we are able to help minimise the problems with children’s diets.”
Declan highlighted they are currently recruiting for more charities, schools and community groups to come onboard as community food members – the term used for beneficiaries of the food.
TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH DECLAN MCKILLOP IN THE 2025 NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER YEARBOOK AND MARKETING GUIDE, CLICK HERE
