What does FareShare do and why we are needed?

Research by the Royal College of Physicians has shown that at least three in five homeless people have no daily intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. Many day centres and homeless people themselves simply cannot afford a regular supply of high quality fresh food. At the same time, due to stringent company policies, food retailers and wholesalers are throwing away huge amounts of good quality food. This waste frustrates many food suppliers, but they do not have the means to arrange and co-ordinate its distribution.

It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK cannot afford a healthy diet, with 1 in 7 people over 65 at serious risk of malnourishment.

This lack of a healthy diet, combined with the other hardships such as homelessness impairs the immune system and leaves people vulnerable to ill health. For example poor health has a significant impact on homeless people with an average lifespan of just 42 years compared to the national average of 74 years.

Improved physical health often leads to better mental health and therefore, by helping vulnerable people to gain access to other support services, FareShare can help people to improve the quality of their lives.