A Third of British Adults Generously Donate Food Over Christmas

LONDON, November 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

• Brits prove their generosity over the Christmas period, as almost a third of the British have donated food to vulnerable people in need  
• Fifth Neighbourhood Food Collection launched by Tesco working in partnership with FareShare and the Trussell Trust this week 

Despite the chaos and excitement of the festive period, almost a third (32%) of the British public have remembered vulnerable people by generously donating food to those in need across the country, according to a new survey published today.

The survey also reveals the generosity across the Britain, as the North West comes out on top as the most generous region (39%), ahead of Wales (38%), the South East (37%) and Scotland (37%).

The survey goes on to show that more females (38%) have donated than their male counterparts (26%), while the youngest 18-24 age group is the most generous (38%) when it comes to food donations in the lead up to Christmas.  

Food poverty continues to be a serious issue across the UK despite the economic recovery, as figures published by the Trussell Trust last week showed the number of people helped by foodbanks in the first half of the 2014-15 financial year was 38% higher than numbers helped during the same period last year.

The survey of 2,030 people by YouGov*, commissioned by Tesco, comes as the latest Neighbourhood Food Collection is launched, where customers are encouraged to donate food to those in need at Tesco stores right across the country. This is the fifth Neighbourhood Food Collection since 2012.

Food donations to the Neighbourhood Food Collection benefit a range of people across the country, with donations going to either FareShare, a food redistribution charity, or foodbanks charity The Trussell Trust. Tesco provides a 30% top up to the charities based on the collective weight of donated goods.

To date, the campaign has collected 15.3 million meals for people in need since 2012, and the target this year is to provide more than 20 million meals. The 15.3 million meals includes the 30% top-up, permanent & local collections, plus surplus food provisions. Neighbourhood Food Collection relies on and is bolstered by volunteers.

Tesco is calling for customers to go instore to donate food to designated food collection points. Follow @Tesco for the latest news and use #everycanhelps to find out more about the initiative. Tesco will also be raising money for the FareShare and the Trussell Trust through the sale of special Christmas hats and cards this year.

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said: "Sadly food poverty affects a large number of people across the UK and we are now providing food to 32% more charities than we did six months ago. From homeless hostels to breakfast clubs, women's refuges to luncheon clubs for older people, these frontline organisations need food more than ever, so we're thrilled to partner with Tesco on the Neighbourhood Food Collection again this year. This campaign enables us all to help in a simple practical way, as every item of food donated will make a difference to vulnerable people in our community." 

David McAuley, Trussell Trust Chief Executive, says:  " In just six months Trussell Trust foodbanks have given 3 days'  food to almost 500,000 people, including over 175,000 children. Redundancy, illness, benefit problems and family breakdown are some of the reasons why people go hungry. Increasingly, people on low-incomes are living on a financial knife edge where even a small crisis can lead families to face hunger. As winter begins to bite, many will be forced to make tough choices between eating and heating, and thousands will struggle to put any food on the table on Christmas Day. Foodbanks are gearing up to meet the growing need over the festive season and we're excited to team up with Tesco once again to work on Neighbourhood Food Collection for a fifth time. Over 90 percent of food given out by foodbanks is donated by the public, so we're reliant on people's generosity. It's incredible to see over a third of the UK now supporting their local food charity, and we'd urge people to keep giving."

Greg Sage, Community Director at Tesco, commented: "It's encouraging that people still think food poverty is a serious issue that needs to be tackled, and so many have donated to food banks as a result. This is our fifth Neighbourhood Food Collection, and it's hugely important that we dig deep and do what we can to help people who are in need this Christmas.

"This year we want to break records and provide more meals for people in need than ever before. Our customers can donate food at Tesco stores right across the UK all this week and weekend." 

Notes to editors 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,030 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 18th - 19th November 2014. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

Regional breakdown of donations:  

1.  North West 39%

2.  Wales 38%

3.  South East 37%

4.  Scotland 37%

5.  South West 34%

6.  London 32%

7.  West Midlands 28%

8.  East of England 28%

9.  North East 28%

10. East Midlands 26%

11. York and Humber 25%

Demographic breakdown  

1. 18-24 year olds 38%

2. 45-55 year olds 33%

3. 55+ year olds 32%

4. 35-44 year olds 30%

5. 25-24 year olds 29%

About the Neighbourhood Food Collection:

• Tesco works with its food collection partners, foodbank charity the Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare, to launch the Neighbourhood Food Collection.
• From November 24th until November 29th Tesco customers are encouraged to donate at Tesco food collection points.
• The donations to the Neighbourhood Food Collection go to either FareShare or The Trussell Trust - benefitting families and individuals across the UK.
• Tesco provides 30% top up to the charities based on the weight.
• To date, the campaign has collected 15.3 million meals for people in need since it launched in 2012.
• The target this year is to achieve a total of more than 20 million meals.

About The Trussell Trust: 

• Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to benefit problems or receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Trussell Trust's 400-strong network of foodbanks provide a minimum of three days' nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK.
• In 2013-14 foodbanks fed 913,138 people nationwide. Of those helped, 330,205 were children. In the first six months of the 2014-15 financial year almost 500,000 people received 3 days' food, a 38% increase on the same period last year.
• Everyone who comes to a Trussell Trust foodbank is referred by frontline professionals like social workers, schools liaison officers, CAB and health visitors. Over 27,000 professionals refer to foodbanks in the UK.
• Over 90% of food given out is donated by the public and over 30,000 people volunteer at Trussell Trust foodbanks across the UK.
• Trussell Trust foodbanks do much more than food, they provide a listening ear and help resolve the underlying cause of the crisis. The Trussell Trust is currently piloting having financial advisers in foodbanks, in partnership with Martin Lewis.
• http://www.trusselltrust.org

About FareShare: 

• 3.9 million tonnes of food is wasted every year by the food and drink industry. We estimate 10% of this is surplus and fit for consumption, enough food for 800 million meals. We currently handle approximately 1.5% of the surplus food available in the UK.
• FareShare ensures that good food is put to good use rather than wasted.
• Over 1,700 charities benefit from FareShare food. These include breakfast clubs, women's refuges and luncheon clubs for older people. These charities save on average £13,000 a year, which can be reinvested into other services.
• Over 82,100 people benefit from FareShare food every day.
• In the last year, the food redistributed by FareShare contributed towards more than 13.2 million meals and helped businesses reduce CO2 emissions by 25,200 tonnes.
• We also provide training and education around the essential life skills of food preparation and nutrition, and warehouse employability training.