Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber Staff Volunteer at FareShare Yorkshire in Support of Charity of the Year

Staff members from Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Charlotte Saxton , Carrie Sudbury , Shane Young , Sue Ball , Lynne Urpeth , Nicky Beal and Louise Clarke , spent a fulfilling day volunteering at FareShare Yorkshire, their designated 2023/24 Charity of the Year. The team worked together to assist with sorting, packing, and preparing essential food packages for delivery, supporting communities across South Yorkshire. 

Throughout the day, Chamber staff were actively involved in a variety of tasks at the FareShare Yorkshire warehouse. From organising boxes of fresh produce such as carrots, potatoes, and bananas to preparing food packages for distribution, the Chamber team contributed to the vital work that helps tackle food insecurity across the region. The food they helped to pack will be distributed to charities and community organisations, ensuring that surplus food reaches those most in need. 

Shane Young, Operations Director of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to support FareShare Yorkshire: 

“It was a fantastic experience to work alongside the amazing FareShare team. Their dedication and hard work are truly inspiring, and we’re honoured to be able to play a small part in the vital work they do across South Yorkshire. Volunteering was not only eye-opening but also incredibly rewarding, and I encourage anyone who can to get involved!” 

FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations. Together, they take good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and distribute it to over 8,500 frontline charities and community groups. The food FareShare redistributes is nutritious and good to eat, reaching a variety of charities across the UK, including school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, homeless shelters, and community cafes. Every week, FareShare provides enough food to create over two million meals for vulnerable people. 

The volunteering day provided a hands-on perspective of the logistical efforts that keep FareShare Yorkshire’s operations running smoothly. It also highlighted the importance of redistributing surplus food to help combat hunger and food waste in South Yorkshire. 

The partnership between Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber and FareShare Yorkshire has seen multiple fundraising events supporting the Charities efforts throughout 2024, as the Chamber remains committed to supporting local causes that make a tangible difference in the community.