The cost of living crisis is having a dramatic impact on families in Bootle, as highlighted by new figures published by FareShare – the UK’s biggest charity fighting hunger and food waste.

The charity’s annual statistics, show that between April 2021 and March 2022, it redistributed the equivalent of 151,000 meals in Bootle via 17 local charities.

Peter Dowd has given their support to the charity, calling on the government to reinstate previously axed funding. 

FareShare takes delivery of surplus good-to-eat food, which is unsold or unwanted by the food industry, sorts it in one of its regional warehouses, and distributes it through a network of thousands of charities and community groups, or via its app called FareShare Go.

These organisations then turn this nutritious food into meals for vulnerable families and individuals, many of whom are struggling with unemployment, low income, debt, homelessness, family break up, dependency or other issues.

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare’s CEO, said "More than 2 million tonnes of good-to-eat food goes to waste on our farms and in our factories every year. Meanwhile, millions of people are experiencing food insecurity, with more and more people in Bootle being affected by the cost of living crisis."

"At a time of so much need, it is wrong that there is so much waste. That’s why we started our #FoodOnPlates campaign, and I’m incredibly grateful for Peter Dowd for their support in Parliament.”

FareShare previously took part in a trial project run by Defra, which enabled farmers and producers to get their unsold food to charities, via FareShare’s innovative Surplus with Purpose scheme. Despite George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Defra, saying that the government supports FareShare repeatedly at the dispatch box over recent months, the funding has not yet materialised. 

Peter Dowd said: "It’s time that the Government’s warm words were translated into funding. With so many struggling to cope, funding food redistribution and stopping needless food waste is a no brainer. £5 million in annual funding would allow FareShare to redistribute an additional 53 million meals across the UK."

"It’s important that funding gets to the farms sooner rather than later, to enable them to help people affected by the cost of living crisis with surplus food from the current growing season and harvest."

"The government needs to act right now."