8.4 million people in the UK live in food poverty.
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300 green Santas raced up the 48 flights of stairs of the One Canada Square building in Canary Wharf at the weekend to raise money for London’s hunger and food waste crisis.
The fundraising event, organised by The Felix Project, aims to raise £300,000 in its second year. The money allows for the redistribution of 825,000 meals to Londoners experiencing food insecurity.
Working parents in London face food insecurity
Research released in October from The Felix Project found that 25% of London’s working parents had either skipped a meal or refrained from buying themselves an adequate meal, to ensure their children were fed. The Felix Project and charities alike, aim to rescue surplus food from supermarkets and consumers.
This is excess healthy food that otherwise would be wasted. The food is saved and delivered to food banks, primary schools and charities across the capital. In doing so, decreasing the number of Londoners who are going without adequate meals.
Charlie Neal told City News that the fastest completion of the 48 flights of stairs was in six and a half minutes. CREDIT: GWENDOLYN BARING/CITYNEWS
Millions of tonnes of edible food wasted every year
Statistics from Waste Managed suggests the UK wastes roughly 9.52 million tonnes of food per year. That is enough food to feed 30 million people in food poverty, a year. Christian Reynolds, from the Centre for Food Policy at City St George’s University, says that on average per year 4.7 million tonnes of edible food waste is thrown out by each household.
“Consumers are the biggest wasters in the food system.”
Christian Reynolds, City St George’s University
Around the Christmas period food waste increases. Christian Reynolds explained that “because everyone is travelling, it’s outside normal routine and when you’re outside of a routine that changes amounts of waste. Supermarkets are also struggling with forecasting what is buying because it’s outside of routine”.
One volunteer at the Santa Stair Climb urged for members of the public to be more conscious of how much food we waste. He said “we should be taking [excess food] to food banks and various different places where we can drop stuff off, and I don’t think there’s enough of that”.
Tanya Mitchell, director of fundraising and communications at The Felix Project, spoke of the demand for adequate meals around the holiday period for those in food poverty.
“At the charity we see demand going up…because people are affected by the winter fuel and the cap is going up…people have to make a choice between heating and eating.”
Tanya Mitchell, The Felix Project
What’s next?
Charities like The Felix Project are trying to raise awareness by working with the Government and collaborating with other leading food rescue organisations in the sector.
While The Felix Project might have raised £300,000 this weekend, food poverty and food waste is a constant crisis which affects the capital.
According to Tanya Mitchell, The Felix Project hopes the Government will put more money into the system that will allow for those in need to have enough money to survive.
Charities are encouraging consumers and supermarkets to take edible food waste to food banks this Christmas, in hope of mitigating London’s hunger crisis.
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HeadlineFundraising Santas to redistribute 825,000 meals to Londoners amidst the capital’s hunger crisis
Short Headline300 Santas raise funds for hungry Londoners
StandfirstThe Felix Project is aiming to raise £300,000 to tackle London's hunger and food waste crisis.
300 green Santas raced up the 48 flights of stairs of the One Canada Square building in Canary Wharf at the weekend to raise money for London’s hunger and food waste crisis.
The fundraising event, organised by The Felix Project, aims to raise £300,000 in its second year. The money allows for the redistribution of 825,000 meals to Londoners experiencing food insecurity.
Working parents in London face food insecurity
Research released in October from The Felix Project found that 25% of London’s working parents had either skipped a meal or refrained from buying themselves an adequate meal, to ensure their children were fed. The Felix Project and charities alike, aim to rescue surplus food from supermarkets and consumers.
This is excess healthy food that otherwise would be wasted. The food is saved and delivered to food banks, primary schools and charities across the capital. In doing so, decreasing the number of Londoners who are going without adequate meals.
Charlie Neal told City News that the fastest completion of the 48 flights of stairs was in six and a half minutes. CREDIT: GWENDOLYN BARING/CITYNEWS
Millions of tonnes of edible food wasted every year
Statistics from Waste Managed suggests the UK wastes roughly 9.52 million tonnes of food per year. That is enough food to feed 30 million people in food poverty, a year. Christian Reynolds, from the Centre for Food Policy at City St George’s University, says that on average per year 4.7 million tonnes of edible food waste is thrown out by each household.
“Consumers are the biggest wasters in the food system.”
Christian Reynolds, City St George’s University
Around the Christmas period food waste increases. Christian Reynolds explained that “because everyone is travelling, it’s outside normal routine and when you’re outside of a routine that changes amounts of waste. Supermarkets are also struggling with forecasting what is buying because it’s outside of routine”.
One volunteer at the Santa Stair Climb urged for members of the public to be more conscious of how much food we waste. He said “we should be taking [excess food] to food banks and various different places where we can drop stuff off, and I don’t think there’s enough of that”.
Tanya Mitchell, director of fundraising and communications at The Felix Project, spoke of the demand for adequate meals around the holiday period for those in food poverty.
“At the charity we see demand going up…because people are affected by the winter fuel and the cap is going up…people have to make a choice between heating and eating.”
Tanya Mitchell, The Felix Project
What’s next?
Charities like The Felix Project are trying to raise awareness by working with the Government and collaborating with other leading food rescue organisations in the sector.
While The Felix Project might have raised £300,000 this weekend, food poverty and food waste is a constant crisis which affects the capital.
According to Tanya Mitchell, The Felix Project hopes the Government will put more money into the system that will allow for those in need to have enough money to survive.
Charities are encouraging consumers and supermarkets to take edible food waste to food banks this Christmas, in hope of mitigating London’s hunger crisis.
