Category: News

EFA are recruiting a new temporary driver. This is a 6 month post working with our friendly team to deliver surplus food across community organisations in Devon. Please click the link for more details on the job and how to apply.

A wonderfully generous donation made by Coreus Group – gratefully received by Wendy at our warehouse.

Thank you!

Exeter Food Action has been selected by the Exeter Chiefs Foundation’s board of trustees to benefit from the fund-raising activities that take place on men’s and women’s match-days. EFA will provide volunteer hours for bucket collections and car parking donations on match-days in return for a share of the money collected.

These designated funds are ring-fenced specifically for us and will be distributed to us from Exeter Chiefs at the start of the following season.

We are really grateful for this support from Exeter Chiefs!

https://www.exeterchiefsfoundation.org.uk/news/designated-charities-assemble-ahead-of-202526-season

Spring has finally sprung, a great time to open up our windows and doors to let the warmer air refresh our homes. In this issue of Food Matters, with spring cleaning in mind, we’ve news of how we can help with our new house decluttering service!

And there’s much else besides, including:

• a look at the Chancellor’s Spring Statement,
• a profile of one of the services we work with, Ashley Court,
• many grateful thanks to our supporters and partners, including Fare Share South West and the Exeter Chiefs,
• news of an upgrade to our chiller,
• a look at where our food goes,
• some of the latest food in the news, and
• the incredible support we enjoyed during this year’s Food Waste Action Week.

You can view or download a copy by clicking on the image below.

This year’s April Fools Day japes are likely to have raised fewer chuckles than usual because it’s the same date that people’s household budgets were squeezed yet further by across the board increases in the costs of council tax, energy, water, TV licences, stamps, broadband and mobile phones, in what’s been dubbed as ‘Awful April’.

For the estimated 7.3 million adults (14% of households), experiencing food insecurity in the UK in 2025, it will be a particularly challenging time. Many consumer groups, however, are offering advice on cutting costs and we’ve rounded up a few ways to cushion the blow, such as switching to cheaper providers and checking eligibility for council tax relief etc.

Download a short guide to cushioning the blow via this link

Would you like to play a crucial role in supporting Exeter Food Action’s sustainability and growth, joining a dedicated and friendly team of fellow trustees, staff and volunteers? If you have experience and skills in fundraising, marketing or communications we’d love to hear from you.

Dedicated to tackling food waste and food insecurity, with the help of over 50 committed volunteers we ‘rescue’ surplus food from supermarkets, producers and other sources, redistributing it to 67 food banks and community groups in Exeter and across Devon. During an average week these organisations support 1,000s of individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

FIND OUT MORE / APPLY HERE: https://tinyurl.com/38b4hk44

Sometimes problems can become opportunities when the right people come together. Our problem this week was how, when your van’s miles away, do you pick up a van load of milk offered by our friends at Crediton Dairy, and it had to be done sharpish?

Easy, thanks to Exeter company, Refrigerated Vehicle Rental (RVR), who received a cheeky plea from EFA for a hand. Not only did they offer us a van but a driver too, and the wonderful Libby came to our rescue, picking up the milk, delivering some to Wynstream School and what they couldn’t take to us.

Thank you Libby and RVR. You saved us from crying over lost milk but, more importantly, ensured that the milk will find its way onto the tables of people struggling to make ends meet.

Hat’s off to Libby and RVR!

A new report published today, ‘Your Place at the Table’, reveals the worrying scale of food insecurity in the UK, with 7.2 million households struggling to afford healthy meals.

The report, by FoodCycle, a charity that, like EFA, ‘rescues’ surplus food and provides it to community groups, in partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, reveals that the poorest 20% of households would need to spend 50% of their disposable income to meet the government-recommended healthy eating guidelines. Conversely, the wealthiest households would only need to spend 11% of their disposable income, pointing to the fact that, for many, healthy eating is fast becoming an unaffordable luxury.

Another report, The Broken Plate, published last week by the Food Foundation, revealed that 1,000 calories of healthy food, such as fresh vegetables and fruit, currently costs £8.80, with the same calorie count of processed food costing only £4.30.

Both reports highlight that too many people lack the financial means to access decent food and that much of the food readily available and marketed to us is damaging our health and the planet.

Your Place at the Table: view/download the full report via this link.
The Broken Plate: view/download the full report via this link.

Yes, we know it’s not even Christmas yet, but it’s only a few weeks until we start thinking about New Year’s resolutions.

A few people have asked how they might support our work, perhaps through some kind of event or challenge, so we’ve put together a selection of potentially helpful, fun ideas, everything from an EFA Karaoke Night, Bake Off and even Denouncing a Vice for us.

Whether as an individual, with family or colleagues, with your school or business, there’s lots to choose from. Why let your New Year’s resolution be something that goes in one year and out the other when there’s fun to be had, and for such a great cause?

Download a list of fundraising ideas via this link. Have fun!

As the colder weather approaches, although on the date of this post it’s not as severe in the South West as further north, should it arrive here and you’re in receipt of certain benefits, you may be entitled to a cold weather payment, a Government top-up to help with fuel bills. The benefits that ensure entitlement are listed below:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit (with some exceptions)
• Support for Mortgage Interest

The payments kick in if the weather station nearest to your postcode records an average temperature of zero degrees Celsius or less for seven days in a row, or if the forecast is for below freezing temperatures for seven consecutive days. The payments don’t affect other benefits.

Click on the link below and enter your postcode to see if you’re eligible:

ELIGIBILITY CHECKER (England only)