Cash for food bank charity 'will help feed 10,000'

FareShare distributes surplus food to those in need

Hull City Council has awarded £50,000 to a food bank charity.

FareShare Hull and Humber redistributes food, which would otherwise go to waste, to charities and community groups.

The council estimates that the grant will support 10,000 residents a week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Councillor Jack Haines, the council's portfolio holder for communities, described the FareShare service as "essential".

The funding is part of a £2m package from the local authority to help struggling families, financed from the government's Household Support Fund.

The package also includes extending the local free school meals holiday voucher programme, £40 school uniform vouchers for low-income families and help to improve energy efficiency in homes.

According to a council decision record, 92 per cent of groups that receive food from FareShare reported increased demand during the cost of living crisis.

Around half of the groups said they had expanded training and support with cooking.

Mr Haines said the grant was needed "to ensure that surplus food is redirected to support the voluntary sector, educational establishments and the council".

FareShare Hull and Humber redistributes surplus produce from the food industry to more than 150 organisations throughout the region.

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