- According to The Food Foundation, approximately 4.7 million adults and 2.5 million children experienced food insecurity in 2022, meaning they lacked reliable access to affordable, nutritious food.
- Research by the End Child Poverty Coalition found that nearly 1 in 3 children in the UK lived in poverty in 2022, with many of these children regularly going without sufficient food.
- Age UK estimates that around 1.3 million older people are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, often due to poverty, isolation, and difficulties accessing food.
- Despite these needs, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) estimates that around 9.5 million tonnes of food were wasted in the UK in 2021, highlighting the disparity between food waste and food security.
The UK’s community bank, Metro Bank, gives every colleague a Day to Amaze – essentially a paid day off to support a local charity or good cause. For the second time this year, colleagues from Metro Bank’s Internal Audit team got hands-on at The Felix Project’s Park Royal Depot.
The Felix Project rescues surplus food from the food industry that cannot be sold and would otherwise be discarded. This food is then sorted, packed, and delivered to over 900 frontline community organisations, primary schools, and holiday programmes across the region.
During their time at the Park Royal depot, the team engaged in various tasks – from sorting through food donations to ensuring that everything was properly labelled and packed for distribution. But the highlight of the day was joining The Felix Project’s delivery rounds, where they got to see firsthand the impact of their efforts. Each stop along the way was a reminder that food is more than just sustenance, it’s a lifeline for many.
“Volunteering with The Felix Project is an incredibly rewarding experience for our team,” says Metro Bank’s Head of Internal Audit, Judith Lowe. “It’s amazing to see how our collective efforts can help make a tangible difference in the community. This is our second time volunteering this year, and each time we leave inspired by the impact volunteering has on reducing food waste and supporting those in need.”
For more information on how you can get involved with The Felix Project, visit their website at www.thefelixproject.org.