Category: News

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)

EFA regularly collect donated food from Nando’s in Exeter, for which we and its eventual recipients are very grateful, and we were delighted to learn in September that they had a small budget allocated to help a local charity, and had chosen us. This was incredibly generous and particularly timely because we’re in the gradual process of replacing old chest freezers with upright models, which are much more efficient and practical given the volumes of food we collect and deliver.

We’re hugely grateful to the property department at Nando’s UK & IRE, and to Chris Thomas at Fosters Refrigeration for the heavily discounted unit, which has now been delivered and is up and running in our warehouse, an enormous help in keeping our food fresh and ready for the 64 food banks and community groups we support.

The Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Food Matters is out and can be viewed via the link below or downloaded to your device.

As we head into another winter, this issue takes a look at our work over the last few months, with thanks to some of the many friends, partners, supporters and volunteers who make it all possible.

We’ve also news of some wonderful Christmas support provided by the Exeter Chiefs Foundation, take a look at some of the health benefits of volunteering, step into the world of virtual reality in our latest volunteer profile, have an update on a new annual partnership with Devon farmers, provide useful details on DWP payments this winter and, who knew there was such a thing as a Human Fruit Machine? There is, or rather was, as you’ll find out on page 22, and there’s much else besides.

As ever, please let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see covered in future issues and do share Food Matters with anyone you think might be interested in hearing about our work.

View by clicking here or on the image below. Right-click either link and select “Save Link As” or “Download Linked File As” (on a Mac) to download Food Matter to your device.

Coastal Recycling has been operating for thirty years and as an employee-owned business since 2021. Committed to sustainability, with a vision to maximise the recycling and recovery of resources, the company contributes to community, environmental and social projects in Exeter and across Devon, including to Exeter Food Action.

Earlier this year, during Food Waste Action week, along with several other local supporters, they donated food to EFA kindly collected by their staff, for which we were immensely grateful. More recently, they were kind enough to dispose of an old chest freezer, free of charge.

Thank you to our friends at Coastal Recycling for their invaluable support for our work.

We’d be grateful if visitors to our website could spare a minute to nominate EFA for a chance to win £1,000, part of the Benefact Group’s annual Movement for Good Awards. It’s quick and easy to do via this link: www.movementforgood.com.

Of the categories listed, although none reflect our work precisely, one has to be chosen, so the most appropriate for us are probably ‘poverty’, ‘health’ or ‘community’.

Winners are drawn at random, so the more nominations we receive the better, although please note that, while it’s possible to nominate several charities, you can only nominate a charity once. Obviously, the more nominations we get the better our chances.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 26^th July

Please share the opportunity with as many people as you can.

Thank you.

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 UK experience and skills in fundraising, preferably within the charity sector, we’d love to hear from you. You’ll need to have an understanding of fundraising regulations and compliance requirements, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and an ability to build relationships and to engage with stakeholders effectively.

If you’re interested in joining our friendly team please do get in touch. You can download a full role description and contact details here.

Our Summer 2024 issue of Food Matters is now available to view/download by clicking on the image below.

In this issue, with only a week to go before the general election, we’ve been taking a look at some of the calls being made on the next government to address the issue of food insecurity and tackle the staggering levels of food waste in the UK, for example by our partners, Fare Share, and other charities working in the field,

But if you’re already election weary, there’s plenty more too, including a look at some innovate apps aimed at tackling food waste, as well as some useful tips to reduce food waste in the home. Who knew that storing milk in the fridge door isn’t such a good idea?

On the subject of food, Jack Monroe, the food writer, journalist and activist known for campaigning on poverty issues, particularly hunger relief, has kindly agreed for us to reproduce some of her recipes in Food Matters. Jack’s published seven cookbooks focusing on ‘austerity recipes’ and meals that can be made on the tightest of budgets. For starters, in this issue, there’s a delicious Coronation Quiche at around 40p per serving.

There’s much else besides in Food Matter’s 21 pages, all in the menu of contents in the image below. Please feel free to share far and wide with anyone who you think might be interested. And please do let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see covered in a future issue.