Chichester charity UKHarvest celebrates rescuing enough food for 10 million meals

A Chichester-based charity that started with just one person and a van has reached an extraordinary milestone, rescuing enough surplus food to provide the equivalent of 10 million meals to communities across the South of England and beyond.

UKHarvest, which was founded in March 2017, reached the landmark achievement on Friday 16 October, coinciding with World Food Day.

The charity has grown from a small operation in Chichester into a major food rescue organisation, collecting around 10 tonnes of surplus food every week from farms, growers, producers and distributors.

Rather than allowing perfectly good food to go to waste, UKHarvest redistributes it to communities, helping families access affordable, nutritious food at a time when many households continue to face financial pressures.

The charity is now celebrating the milestone by thanking the volunteers, businesses, food producers and supporters who have helped make its work possible.

What began with a single van and a lock-up in Chichester has developed into an operation with a fleet of vehicles and a warehouse equipped with chilled and frozen storage facilities.

UKHarvest now supports communities across the South of England and West London through a growing range of food programmes, education initiatives and community projects.

Its Community Food Hubs provide affordable food directly to neighbourhoods, while its Grub Club programme, launched in 2024, now operates in 20 primary schools across West Sussex.

The charity also opened its Nourish Hub in West London in 2021, combining access to nutritious meals with food education and practical cooking skills.

In January 2026, UKHarvest expanded its services further with the introduction of Community Grub Clubs and the Nourish Hub Café.

The organisation says demand for its services continues to grow as households struggle with the rising cost of living.

Susannah Day, Chair of the Board for UKHarvest, praised the community effort behind the achievement and highlighted the charity's ongoing mission.

She said: “With the generous support of Queen Camilla as Patron, UKHarvest has continued to grow into an outstanding charity, delivering affordable food and free food education to thousands of people each year through our Community Food Hubs, Grub Clubs, Nourish Hub and community cafés.

“The team and volunteers work towards a more sustainable food system in a time when the cost of living continues to rise and more people are using our services, keeping the community at the center of everything we do. Thank you.”

The charity says reaching the equivalent of 10 million meals would not have been possible without the collective efforts of local businesses, volunteers and organisations working together to tackle food waste.

Food producers and suppliers donate surplus stock that might otherwise be discarded, while volunteers and staff collect, sort and redistribute it to communities where it can make a difference.

The organisation also works with charity partners to ensure rescued food reaches households and individuals who can benefit from it.

While the latest achievement marks a significant moment in UKHarvest's history, the charity says its work is far from finished.

It is now calling on more people, businesses and community groups across Sussex and the wider South to help rescue the next million meals' worth of food.

Supporters can contribute through financial donations, volunteering their time or offering professional skills to help the charity expand its services.

Farms, growers, food producers and distributors are also being encouraged to consider donating suitable surplus food rather than allowing it to go to waste.

Businesses and community organisations can get involved through fundraising events, partnerships and other initiatives supporting UKHarvest's work.

The charity hopes its continued growth will help more families access nutritious food while reducing the environmental impact of food waste.

For UKHarvest, the 10 million meals milestone represents not only the amount of food rescued since 2017, but also the impact of communities working together to ensure good food does not go to waste.

Anyone wishing to donate, volunteer or find out how their business can support the charity can visit www.ukharvest.org.uk or email info@ukharvest.org.uk.

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