How to access surplus food

Many projects across Brighton & Hove use surplus food to provide food for the community. These projects include lunch clubs, soup kitchens, food banks, and community food growing projects. Organisations putting on fundraising events may also use surplus food donations. We aim to reduce food waste by working with organisations who distribute surplus food to those in need.

There are a number of options for sourcing food for your charitable and community needs. However, with the rising demand on food providers as the Cost-of-Living Crisis heightens food insecurity, please be aware there is less surplus food to go round.

• If you need regular food donations, please get in touch with FareShare Sussex & Surrey. They can also advise you on the Fareshare Go project, which can offer more flexible donation arrangements directly from a retailer. Be aware there is a waiting list on these services.
• You can sign up to Neighbourly, Too Good to Go and Olio to pick up surplus food through their apps.
• Contact your nearest other food project to see if they ever have leftovers. You can search your local area on our Directory.
• Ask a local business to sponsor you and buy food with this support.
• Consider a small fee (many affordable food projects ask for a membership payment around £3 per person to help with purchasing food) 
• There is a Whatsapp group where surplus food offers are shared amongst food projects in the city. If you are a project that would like to join this chat, or a business with surplus food you would like to offer, please contact us on info@bhfood.org.uk.

Visit our page for more advice and Support for community food projects.