FareShare South West

We’re Recruiting: Become a Volunteer Buddy, today! 💚 We’re looking for friendly, compassionate people to join us as Volunteer Buddies! This role is all about supporting fellow volunteers and helping them feel confident, included, and ready to thrive. 🗨️ What Volunteer Buddies can do: 🌍 Language Support: Help translate and make sure everyone feels included. 💪 Mobility Assistance: Assist volunteers with mobility challenges in tasks like picking and packing orders. 🤝 Mental Health Support: Offer encouragement and be a friendly face to those who need a confidence boost. ✨ Accessibility Support: Assist volunteers with sensory or communication needs to ensure everyone can participate. 🤗 Community Connection: Create a positive, supportive environment and build connections with other volunteers. We have Volunteer Buddy roles available at both our Bristol warehouses: Vale Lane (South Bristol) & Little Ann (Central Bristol). How to Apply: 1. Visit our website 2. Sign up to volunteer 3. Ask about becoming a Volunteer Buddy during your induction call Ready to help make a difference and be part of better? Sign up today! https://buff.ly/41SVCJX

New Year, new opportunity to drive change! 🚚 Why not kick off 2025 by making a real difference in your local community! We’re looking for both volunteer Drivers and Drivers’ Mates to help deliver vital food supplies across the South West. Whether you're behind the wheel or lending a hand with deliveries, you’ll play a key role in fighting hunger and food waste. 💚 What you’ll do: 🍏 Drivers: Safely deliver food to charities, schools, and community projects, helping to ensure no one goes hungry. Please note: Our vans are manual only. 🍏 Drivers’ Mates: Assist with loading, unloading, and ensuring deliveries go smoothly – your support will make a huge impact. Shifts: Ideally, we’d love if you can volunteer once a week between 8:30 – 4 pm, but we also welcome ad hoc volunteers. Every shift counts! Where: You can volunteer at either of our Bristol warehouses – Vale Lane (South Bristol) or Little Ann (Central Bristol). Bonus points if you can help out at both! As a volunteer Driver or Mate, you'll be part of a friendly, supportive team, making a direct impact on the lives of those who need it most. It’s a fantastic way to give back and build a sense of community while gaining valuable experience. 👉 Sign up, hop in and get on the road with us! https://buff.ly/41SVCJX

We’re looking for passionate Volunteer Mentors to join our Employability Programme, FareChance! If you’re ready to make a difference in the lives of young people in Bristol while contributing to your local community, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Help empower young adults (18-25) with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce! What you’ll do: 💡 Support young adults in building employability skills. 💪 Offer mentorship in a busy food warehouse. 🎉 Attend exciting away days and make a real impact in your community! Commitment: 📍 Location: South Bristol, BS3 📅 One session per week, from January to March 2025 🎁 Perks: Full training, DBS certificate, and good vibes! How to Apply: 📅 Apply by January 1st, 2025 📩 Send your CV + cover letter to farechance@faresharesouthwest.org.uk Got questions? Just drop us an email at the same address! Join us in empowering young people, creating brighter futures, and making a lasting impact in our community.🌟

Getting to Vale Lane is easier than you think! 🚲🚌🚂🚶♀️🚗 Our Bedminster warehouse at Vale Lane is just a short trip from the city centre, and there are plenty of ways to get here: 🍏 By Bike: Enjoy a scenic ride - it’s only 20 minutes from Cabot Circus! 🚴♀️ 🍏 By Bus: Hop on a quick bus ride from the city centre - First Buses 76, 75, and the m1 will drop you nearby. 🚌 🍏 By Train: Fancy a walk? It’s a quick 10-minute stroll from the nearest railway station, Parson Street. 🚂🚶♂️ 🍏 By Car: There’s free parking right outside the warehouse! 🚗 No matter how you get here, you’ll be greeted with a warm welcome and the chance to make a real difference. 📍 Our address: Unit 1, Vale Lane, Bristol BS3 5SD Ready to join and be part of better? 👉 Sign up to volunteer at Vale Lane now via our website - https://buff.ly/41SVCJX

We're delighted to see the announcement today that Defra have approved £15m funding to help get surplus food in England from farm gates onto people's plates. Our friends at FareShare UK and The Felix Project have campaigned for years to help rescue home-grown produce that goes to waste or becomes animal feed, all while millions go hungry. It’s a vital step towards a sustainable circular economy that places people first, opening opportunities for government, growers and charities like ours to collaborate on real, long-term solutions to the social and environmental catastrophe of food waste. 43% of the food we shared in 2024 was fresh fruit and vegetables: nutritious, varied and vital for a healthy diet. Unlocking more surplus will help us reach so many more people with good food. We’re excited for the potential of this funding, and hope to see rapid progress to maximise its potential during the UK growing season. #FoodCharity #FoodWaste #SurplusFood #environment #BePartOfBetter

Merry Christmas from FareShare South West! 🎅🎄🌟🎁 Today, as Santa and his helpers take a well-earned rest, we want to celebrate our incredible team of volunteers and supporters. 💚 You’ve all been the real magic-makers this year, helping us fight hunger and food waste across our community. Thanks to your kindness and hard work, countless individuals and families can enjoy a meal this Christmas, knowing that someone cares. 🌟 Together, we’ve spread the magic of the season far and wide. From all of us at FareShare South West, we wish you a wonderful day filled with love, laughter, and festive cheer. 🎁✨

‘Twas the night before Christmas … and the trees are up! ✨🎄 We hope your Christmas trees are sparkling and ready for the big day tomorrow! 🌟 Meanwhile, we’ve been admiring some rather unique “trees” of our own - like this festive Romanesco! 🎄💚 Did you know its spirals follow the Fibonacci sequence, forming a perfect fractal pattern? Nature is amazing! 🌀✨ Thanks to our incredible volunteers, food like this is saved from going to waste and shared with those who need it most. This Christmas, we’re reminded of the power of giving and the magic of community. From all of us at FareShare South West, we wish you a merry and meaningful Christmas Eve! 🎁💚

The fantastic team over at HQW Aerospace, locally known as Barden in Plymouth, have been busy getting into the Christmas spirit by organising a Food Drive for us! Over the past few months, they’ve rallied their staff to donate pantry staples like tinned pulses, pasta and cereals – essential items we’ll be delivering to schools, food banks and community groups across Devon and Cornwall over the winter period. Last week, Dayna and Damien popped by to deliver the donations in person. Dayna shared, “We’ve enjoyed checking in the donations and noticed that the growing pile inspired even more food!” As a socially responsible company, HQW Aerospace are always looking for ways to engage their team and support the community. With our warehouse just around the corner, partnering with FareShare South West was a no brainer! We typically move 160 tonnes of rescued food a month across our sites in Bristol and Plymouth. However, during the winter, this often drops by 30% - a shortfall equivalent to over 110,000 meals. That’s why were especially grateful to HQW Aerospace for their incredible efforts to help boost our stocks and ensure essential items reach those who need them the most. If you’d too like to organise a Food Drive at your workplace, we'd love to hear from you! With our delivery network covering the South West, your donations will have a meaningful impact to many local lives. 💚

A huge thank you to our valued partner, TOUT'S Group., for setting up a wonderful Christmas donation tree at their shop in Cleeve! Thanks to their generosity and their customers’ kindness, these donations are helping us provide meals to those hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis this winter.🎄 Did you know: 💰 £1 enables us to deliver food for 4 meals. 💰 £5 provides enough food for 20 hot meals for people facing food insecurity. 💰 £10 can feed a family of five between Christmas and New Year’s Day. 💰 £25 sends a winter parcel of food and fun activity packs to 5 families in need. Every donation, big or small, helps us bring comfort, nourishment, and a sense of joy to people facing hunger this winter. If you’d like to join the spirit of giving, visit our website to learn how you can help. 🌟 https://buff.ly/3ZNvz3U

📣 Calling all food suppliers: donate vital food supplies this winter! 📣 At FareShare South West, we rescue surplus food and share it with 380+ charities, schools, and community hubs. But in winter, demand skyrockets while our food supplies drop by 30% - leaving a gap of over 110,000 meals between January and March. With 8.4 million people in the UK living in food poverty, your support is more vital than ever. If your business has surplus food - whether it’s outsized veg, short-dated chilled goods, or mislabeled items - we’d love to hear from you! Fresh, ambient, and some frozen foods are welcome, as long as they’re in-date and stored properly. Why donate? ✅ Meet your CSR/ESG goals ✅ Reduce waste (and its associated costs) ✅ Improved staff engagement and retention by showcasing your values ✅ Raised public profile through press and case study opportunities, supported by our Comms team ✅ Support a network of hope in local communities Join us in making a real difference to many local lives this winter. Reach out to Ben or Daniel at donatefood@faresharesouthwest.org.uk or call 0117 450 5046 to get started. #DonateFood #FoodWaste #CSR #ESG #Community #SouthWest