Food distribution organisations are playing a vital role in ensuring surplus food can reach people in need or those considered most vulnerable, whilst also preventing this essential resource from becoming waste.

As part of the UK Government's collaborative response to supporting key infrastructure throughout this difficult time, Defra is making £3.25m available through the Resource Action Fund administered by WRAP. The COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant will be delivered in three phases.

The aim of the grant is to assist surplus food redistributors in overcoming challenges that they are currently facing in obtaining surplus food from food businesses (such as retailers and food manufacturers) and distributing this to people in need or those considered vulnerable. The grant can be used to fund both capital and revenue costs associated with redistribution activities such as:

• access to surplus food through logistical collections;
• sorting, storing, freezing, labelling / repackaging food; and
• onward distribution of food to charities or end beneficiaries.