Marcus Rashford and his fans have distributed more than 21million meals since first Covid lockdown

A food redistribution charity that teamed up with Marcus Rashford says donations from the England footballer and his fans have funded more than 21million meals.   

FareShare has handed out the equivalent of 128.5 million meals in the year since March 23 2020 – more than double the number in the previous 12 months.

Rashford, 23, partnered with the charity around the start of the first lockdown, concerned that school closures could lead to millions of pupils going hungry.

He forced a Government U-turn on free school meal vouchers over the summer holidays, and his petition urging the Government to go further in tackling child hunger hit 100,000 signatures just 10 hours after it was launched.  

Donations from Rashford and his fans have since funded the distribution of food equivalent to more than 21 million meals, with two-thirds going to children and families.

Marcus Rashford visiting FareShare Manchester at New Smithfield Market last October

FareShare has also been supported by the Government and UK retailers who are members of Rashford’s Child Food Poverty Taskforce.

The charity takes food that cannot be sold in shops, for example due to packaging errors, a short shelf life or surplus stock.

It is given to thousands of organisations across the UK such as homeless hostels, school breakfast clubs, domestic violence refuges and food banks, which distribute meals to struggling families and individuals.

FareShare said it has been supported by UK retailers with ‘unprecedented’ food donations, funding, logistical support and warehouse space, while the Government has provided grants to help it procure food.

Nine in 10 of the charities it helps anticipate demand for food will remain as high as lockdown restrictions ease, with job loss, debt and mental health cited as the three most common reasons for people needing help.

Manchester United's Rashford scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Sunday

Manchester United’s Rashford scores their side’s first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Sunday

Rashford (seen at FareShare in Manchester) partnered with the charity around the start of the first lockdown, concerned that school closures could lead to millions of pupils going hungry

Rashford (seen at FareShare in Manchester) partnered with the charity around the start of the first lockdown, concerned that school closures could lead to millions of pupils going hungry

Rashford said: ‘It has been a real pleasure being on this challenging but rewarding journey with FareShare over the last year.

‘The staff, the volunteers and the families I have met have been incredibly supportive and brave with the stories they have shared with me.

‘I’ve made no secret of my desire to see the end of hunger and food insecurity, but for the need we have right now, FareShare are doing a phenomenal job and I will continue to provide them with as much support as they need.’

Lindsay Boswell, FareShare chief executive, said Rashford’s ‘compassion and authenticity’ through sharing his personal experiences has made his campaigning so powerful.

He said: ‘The impact of the Covid crisis has meant that the need for food support has never been greater, particularly among children and families, but with Marcus as our ambassador, and standing shoulder to shoulder with taskforce members, we have never been better placed to step up to the challenge and support communities in need.’

Rashford visiting FareShare Greater Manchester at New Smithfield Market with his mother

Rashford visiting FareShare Greater Manchester at New Smithfield Market with his mother

FareShare received two grants from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2020 to help it procure food directly from the food industry in response to the pandemic.

It is calling for the Government to provide sustained funding for its ‘surplus with purpose’ fund, which helps get surplus food, which would otherwise go to waste, from farmers, growers and manufacturers at no additional cost to the supplier.

A Defra spokesman said: ‘Food waste is one of our biggest environmental challenges. The UK is leading the global effort with a commitment to reduce it by 20 per cent by 2025.

‘We commend FareShare and other organisations for their significant efforts in distributing food to vulnerable people across the country, and we are proud to have helped this work through our £29.9million Covid-19 food charity grants, and our £15 million food waste reduction fund.’

Rashford has been an ambassador for national food redistribution charity FareShare since March 2020.