Petrol prices have risen by 31% and diesel by 41% over the last six months, creating mounting pressure on FareShare South West, the region's largest food redistribution charity. The organisation warned that higher fuel costs are making it harder to meet surging demand for food support across Devon and Cornwall, even as it faces the challenge of absorbing these additional expenses.
Demand for food support from FareShare South West has increased by 45% since the Covid-19 pandemic ended. The charity operates from a distribution hub in Plymouth, where about 80 volunteers and four paid staff sort, organise and load tonnes of surplus food each week. This food, including fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy products, is then distributed to about 70 charities and community groups across the region. The organisation obtains surplus food from food producers, farmers, supermarkets and other businesses to prevent it from going to waste.
Ryan Jackson, manager of the Plymouth hub, said the sharp rises in fuel costs had hit the charity hard. "With petrol rising by 31% and diesel by 41% in the last six months, our costs have increased significantly and those are costs the charity has had to absorb," he said. "At the same time, the number of charities requesting support from FareShare South West has grown across the region." Jackson warned that prolonged high fuel prices could affect the charity's ability to recruit and retain volunteers.
The rising cost of fuel is also affecting the volunteers who keep the service running. Volunteer Jamie Henshaw said that while people care deeply about the work, the financial burden is becoming difficult to bear. "Volunteers aren't paid, so this comes out of their own pockets. They're giving their time and goodwill. There may come a point when some simply can't afford to come to work," he said.
Despite these challenges, FareShare South West said it remained committed to meeting growing demand. The charity plans to move to a larger hub in Plymouth later this year and create more food collection points across the region. FareShare South West relies on a mix of government, corporate and independent funding to support its operations. For people relying on food support across Devon and Cornwall, rising fuel costs threaten to make it harder for charities to reach them at a time when more people are seeking help.