On 9 February 2026 FareShare North East announced it had been awarded a £50,000 unrestricted core grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation to help keep food supplies moving to community pantries and food banks in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.
The grant is unrestricted, so the charity can use it where it is needed most to keep the service stable. That includes paying for fuel for delivery vans, covering warehouse running costs at its Westerhope depot, and supporting the coordination of more than 100 volunteers who help move food across the region.
The funding will help local groups such as the High Spen community pantry and FoodCycle Felling maintain a steady supply of fresh produce and protein. FareShare North East currently redistributes around 140 tonnes of food each month to charities and community groups across the North East.
The support arrives as food charities are working together on a national level: FareShare announced a planned integration with The Felix Project in 2025, with full integration expected during 2026. Local leaders at Gateshead Council have also continued to prioritise food security, including through schemes such as the Household Support Fund which runs into March 2026.
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