FareShare Sussex & Surrey launches urgent appeal as families hit by summer hunger
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With more than 51,000 children across Sussex and Surrey set to lose access to free school meals over the summer holidays[1], FareShare Sussex & Surrey has launched an urgent call for financial donations.
The charity’s Summer Hunger Appeal will raise vital funds to support thousands of families facing six weeks of increased food costs at a time where household budgets are already under intense pressure.
Nationally, The Food Foundation’s 2026 food insecurity tracker found that four children in a classroom of 30 are experiencing food insecurity.
Dan Slatter, CEO at FareShare Sussex & Surrey, said: “The summer holidays should be a time for enjoyment, but for thousands of local families it brings the burden of higher food bills and increased childcare costs.
“When schools close for the break, free school meals stop overnight, creating an immediate gap in household budgets. Parents are left to find an extra £15 to £20 per child every week simply to keep food on the table[2].
“We provide essential regional infrastructure, helping hundreds of frontline organisations stay open, stretch their budgets and offer wraparound support to families who are finding it tough to make ends meet. Every donation helps us keep food moving through the summer months, making sure children have access to good, fresh food when household budgets are under the most pressure.”
According to Child Poverty Action Group, almost three-quarters of children in poverty live in working families, meaning holiday hunger is not limited to those out of work.
Heather Pearcey who helps run the PTA pantry at Elm Grove Primary school, said: “As the school holidays approach, many of the families we support are worried about how they will manage.
“Over the summer, they face the additional costs of meals at home, childcare, activities and preparing for the new school year. The food we receive from FareShare Sussex & Surrey plays a vital role in helping families get through the summer holiday with dignity.”
In 2025/26, FareShare Sussex & Surrey provided the equivalent of 4.55 million meals, supporting 36,730 people facing hunger every week.
Guildford-based St John's Community Support (SJCS) said: “We launched SJCS because there was a deeply concerning need for food support during the summer holidays. The need hasn't gone away – we simply couldn't do this without FareShare Sussex & Surrey.”
A Bexhill mother, who uses the Marketplace community food larder weekly, said: “It helps out so much. It makes a big difference to the shopping bill which frees up money for things like shoes and all the other things the little one needs. I'd be lost without it to be honest.”
FareShare Sussex & Surrey rescues and redistributes surplus food to 307 charity and community groups across the counties, helping to combat hunger, prevent waste and reduce carbon emissions at the same time.
To find out more about FareShare Sussex & Surrey, please visit: https://faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk/
To support the charity’s Summer Hunger Appeal, visit: https://faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk/donate/
[1] Department for Education (DfE) Free School Meals data (2025)
[2] Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), The Cost of a Child 2025 / Summer holiday cost estimates
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Editors notes
About FareShare Sussex & Surrey
FareShare Sussex & Surrey rescues surplus, good-to-eat food from businesses, supermarkets, manufacturers and farms. This food is nutritious, in-date and safe, including fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy, meat and more.
Without FareShare Sussex & Surrey, this food would go to waste. Instead, it’s redistributed to day centres, schools, shelters, refuges, community fridges and other frontline organisations across Sussex and Surrey.
Food poverty is a serious and worsening issue. As of early 2024, 10.2% of people in Sussex live in income deprivation – higher than the South East average – with food insecurity rising sharply due to the cost-of-living crisis.
In 2025/26, FareShare Sussex & Surrey:
- Saved and redistributed 1905 tonnes of surplus food
- Provided the equivalent of 4.55 million meals to people facing hunger
- Supported 36,730 people each week via 307 charity and community partners
- Helped partners save £13.9 million in food costs
- Prevented 3056 tonnes of CO₂e – the same as 6590 one way flights from London to New York
- Was powered by 683 volunteers, who donated 34,824 hours of their time
Every £1 invested in FareShare Sussex & Surrey delivers £13.30 in social value.
