A huge shout-out to FareShare North East’s 13 heroic runners in the 2025 Great North Run this year, raising over £5,000!

Special highlights include:

• CEO, Jake Hanmore, looking proud as punch to finish.
• Volunteer Ruth Stokes, who wore her heart, and our apple, on her nails.

Ruth’s run had a twist: the visually impaired runner she was guiding had to drop out after seven miles due to health issues. But Ruth was determined. She went ahead and organised her own “Great North Run” with her club, the Prudhoe Plodders, complete with a finish line, cheering squad, and even a custom medal!

She’s raised £500 for FareShare North East, every penny of it turning surplus food into support for local communities.

Read Ruth's Story on Facebook

FareShare UK has announced its merger with The Felix Project, a London-based charity that shares our mission of supporting communities, reducing food waste, and making sure good food reaches the people and organisations that can use it best.

Here at FareShare North East, we remain an independent member of the 17-strong FareShare network, and while we’re not merging ourselves, this national step forward should help unlock more surplus food for the North East, cut food waste, and strengthen communities when it matters most.

Founded in 2016, The Felix Project works with supermarkets, wholesalers, and restaurants to redirect surplus food to charities, schools, and community groups across London. With four depots across the city and Felix’s Kitchen – which produces around 5,000 meals daily from surplus food – The Felix Project currently supports more than 1,200 organisations.

By joining forces, FareShare UK and The Felix Project are building a single organisation with greater reach, resilience, and community impact. Together, they already help over a million people each year through thousands of local charities, schools, and groups. This merger combines the strength of FareShare’s UK-wide network with The Felix Project’s innovation and energy, creating more opportunities to share resources and support communities right across the country.

The new organisation will be able to reduce duplication, streamline operations, and make every pound and every meal go further. Most importantly, it will help more communities connect with the surplus food available and use it to strengthen local projects, from community kitchens to after-school clubs.

This step is not a reset but a continuation of the work that both charities have been doing for years. What works today will continue – the community partnerships, local delivery models, and strong networks – while the merger creates space to grow and expand what’s possible together.

The merger will take place gradually over the next 12–18 months. During this period, both organisations will continue to operate under their existing names, working closely to bring their networks together.

Our call to businesses to pledge support and help unlock match-funding for surplus food redistribution.

This December 2025, FareShare North East is once again taking part in The Big Give, the UK’s largest match-funding campaign. For one week only, every pound donated to our campaign will be doubled, helping us rescue even more good food from going to waste and get it to where it’s needed most.

Double the Good – Halve the Waste

This year, we’re aiming high: £10,000 to raise = £20,000 to power our work into 2026.

We’re calling on corporate partners, both new and existing, to get involved early by pledging to support our campaign. Your commitment could help us unlock thousands of pounds in match-funding and inspire others to give generously during the week of the campaign.

Why get involved?

FareShare North East works with the food industry to rescue quality surplus food and redistribute it to over 250 charities and community groups across the region. This prevents good food from ending up in landfill, saving vital resources and cutting carbon emissions, all while nourishing communities.

Each year, around 270,000 tonnes of edible food is wasted by the UK food industry. That’s enough for 650 million meals. With your help, we can save more of it.

While our food members pay a small fee for the food they receive, this only covers around half of our actual core costs. The rest comes from generous funders and partners like you.

Ways to partner with us:

• Pledge match-funding ahead of The Big Give week to double the donations we receive from the public.
• Engage employees in fundraising efforts or volunteering at our Newcastle warehouse.
• Raise awareness of the campaign through your networks, clients and customers.
• Share your impact: Show your commitment to sustainability and social good by aligning your brand with FareShare North East.

Together, we can make a bigger difference.

To find out more about pledging support for The Big Give or becoming a corporate partner, contact Ruth Jackson, Director of Development at [email protected]

Or fill in this form and Take the Pledge now!

Take the Pledge

Join us this December and help turn surplus into support. Let’s double the difference together!

FareShare North East welcomed 20 local Airbnb hosts to our Newcastle depot on 29th May, following the exciting news we’ve received a £16,000 grant from the Airbnb Community Fund.

The visit was part of our celebration of this generous funding, which will be used to support our work redistributing quality surplus food to charities and community groups across the region. The grant will help us rescue even more good food – the kind that would otherwise go to waste – and get it to where it’s needed most, helping to cut carbon emissions and protect precious resources.

Guests were given a behind-the-scenes tour of our depot to see first-hand how our operation works. They also enjoyed a presentation about the impact of our work and where the new funds will be spent. We wrapped up with a delicious buffet made, fittingly, from surplus food, proving just how tasty sustainability can be.

This funding comes from the Airbnb Community Fund, which in its fourth year is donating over $8.5 million to 160+ organisations across more than 30 countries. The fund focuses on key areas like environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and ending abuse and exploitation.

We’re honoured to be one of the chosen recipients and grateful for the incredible support of Airbnb and their host community. With their help, we can continue our mission of fighting food waste, one meal at a time.

Last year, we supported over 260 community organisations, who in turn supported 30,500 people a week through providing enough food for approximately 3.89 million meals (that would have cost £5.5 million). We saved 1,630 tonnes of food and 4,330 million litres of water from being wasted.

Together with our community and partners like Airbnb, we’re building a greener, fairer future for the North East.

Learn more about the Airbnb Community Fund and its global impact here.

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, our FareShare North East team laced up their walking boots – and in one case, pumped up the tyres – for the annual Tees Heritage Walk. This year’s event was more than just a scenic stroll; it was a celebration of community spirit, sustainability, and our ongoing mission to reduce food waste.

A Step Further with Pedal Power

In a new twist, staff member Joe Dunne joined the walk on a cargo bike, adding a new dimension to our participation. Joe’s eco-friendly ride wasn’t just for show; it was stocked with donated water and goodies, which he handed out to fellow walkers along the route. It was our way of sharing a little extra energy and spreading awareness about our cause.

Walking the Talk

Fourteen dedicated volunteers took part in the walk, embracing the challenge with enthusiasm and camaraderie. The route, stretching from Middlesbrough College to Stockton’s Millennium Bridge and back, offered participants a chance to explore the rich industrial heritage of the River Tees while supporting a vital cause.

Fundraising Milestone

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve already raised over £500, with donations still coming in. Every pound contributes to our efforts in rescuing good-to-eat surplus food and redistributing it to charities and community groups across the North East. If you’d like to support our mission, you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/fsneteesheritagewalk

Join Us in Making a Difference

The Tees Heritage Walk is more than just a fundraising event; it’s a testament to what we can achieve when we come together for a common purpose. Whether you’re a seasoned walker, a cycling enthusiast, or someone passionate about reducing food waste, there’s a place for you in our community.

Interested in getting involved? Check out our upcoming events or consider organizing your own fundraising initiative. With a wealth of resources and support, our team is here to help you every step of the way.

Get in touch