Background 

FareShare Cymru (FSC) redistributes surplus edible food from businesses to community organisations across Wales, helping to reduce food waste while supporting people in need. Since 2015, the Welsh Government has awarded over £3m in grant funding to FareShare Cymru (FSC) to support the redistribution of surplus edible food to community organisations across Wales. This funding aimed to reduce food waste, tackle food insecurity, and strengthen the redistribution sector in Wales. Miller Research was asked to evaluate the impact and sustainability of the funding award over the grant period (2015-24) and to highlight opportunities for future support. 

Methodology 

We designed a theory of change approach to understand how the grant was intended to deliver against expected outcomes and whether these were achieved. This included developing a logic model, reviewing monitoring data and documentation, and carrying out interviews, workshops and surveys with stakeholders, member organisations, businesses and volunteers. 

Findings 

The evaluation found that the grant played a vital role in enabling FareShare Cymru to expand its reach and capacity, redistributing 5,651 tonnes of surplus food since 2015. This is the equivalent of over 17 million meals and an estimated £18.6m in savings for community organisations. The funding allowed FSC to build the infrastructure and skills needed to operate across Wales, with members reporting that the service offered a more affordable and reliable source of food, helping them to support more people. Volunteers also benefited, gaining confidence, new skills, qualifications and, in some cases, employment, while food businesses valued FSC as a trusted partner that prevented edible food going to waste. 

Impact 

The evaluation showed that the Welsh Government’s support has been key in enabling FSC to grow sustainably, deliver consistent services, and reduce food waste while supporting communities. It considered both the environmental impact of diverting surplus food from waste, and the social impact on community organisations and the wellbeing of the people they support. 

The full evaluation report is available here.