Government grants for food charities

Grants of £300 to £100,000 are available to food charities for Covid-19 emergency food response.

On Monday 11 May, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) launched a Food Charities Grant Fund. If you run a front-line not-for-profit or charity that provides food, you may be eligible to apply for a grant to support your organisation to provide food those who need it.

Defra encourages you to apply as soon as possible if you are interested in this grant funding. You can apply here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-apply-for-the-food-charities-grant-fund#eligibility-to-apply.

The grant aims to provide immediate support for a limited period of time to help to feed those most vulnerable due to the economic impacts of Covid-19. This ensures that they can access a continual supply of food in a time of increased demand. This will feed economically vulnerable groups including the homeless, the elderly and those in rehabilitation.

The Food Charity Grant Scheme requires charities to apply for at least £30,000. This is to target funding to those charities who have the capacity to reach the greatest number of people and to provide good value for money for the tax payer.

For those charities that would be interested in funding below £30,000, the National Lottery Funding is awarding grants from £300 to £10,000 and is prioritising organisations supporting people most likely to face increased demand and challenges as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. For further information, please follow this link: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-england#section-1.

In addition, WRAP are offering financial support to small not-for-profit organisations who can redistribute surplus food from retailers, wholesalers, and food manufacturers, to people in need or those considered vulnerable. Eligible applicants may apply for grants of between £5,000 and £10,000. For further information, please follow this link: https://wrap.org.uk/content/covid-19-emergency-surplus-food-grant-phase-2

For further enquiries, please contact the Food Charity Grant Scheme Team: foodgrant@defra.gov.uk