Northampton MP backs food charity merger as demand for support continues to rise

The MP for Northampton South has welcomed the merger of two of the UK's leading food redistribution charities, saying the move will help strengthen support for vulnerable people across Northamptonshire.

Mike Reader has backed the unification of food rescue organisations The Felix Project and FareShare, which have come together under a single organisation known as Felix.

The charity already supports a number of organisations across Northampton, including Abbey Centre Community Fridge, Briar Hill Community Foodbank, Growing Together Northampton, Midland Langar Seva Society and Project 16:15.

Through its food redistribution network, the organisation helps provide the equivalent of around 30,000 meals each year to people in the area.

Mr Reader said he had seen the impact of the charity's work first-hand during a visit to FareShare last year.

He said: "This important step will enable Felix to continue the vital work they do across the country, but also in our community.

"I'm very pleased to support this merger and I know that it will allow Felix to continue and expand the great work they do in Northampton South.

"I was privileged to visit FareShare in October last year and see the fantastic work they do with the food that Felix provides, and how they support people locally."

The announcement comes as new research highlights the growing pressures facing charities providing food support.

A survey of more than 2,700 charities found that almost a third would be forced to close their food services without access to redistributed surplus food, while more than half would have to reduce the support they currently provide.

The research also found demand for help continues to rise, with 54 per cent of charities reporting an increase in demand over the past year and 13 per cent saying demand had more than doubled.

Felix, which describes itself as the UK's largest food rescue charity, works with supermarkets, restaurants, wholesalers, manufacturers and farmers to prevent surplus food from going to waste and instead redistribute it to charities and community groups.

Charlotte Hill, chief executive of Felix, said the merger would create a stronger organisation capable of helping more people.

She said: "Separately both charities achieved amazing things but united we are stronger and have a much more powerful voice."

She added that the organisation now supports more than 8,000 charities across the UK, helping them provide food and a range of other services including employment support, financial advice and community activities.

For more information or to donate, visit www.felix.org.