Lockdown: New Government funding will help charities provide meals for the vulnerable

The programme will provide millions of meals over the next 12 weeks and be delivered through charities including FareShare and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

At least 5,000 frontline charities and community groups in England will benefit, including refuges, homeless shelters and rehabilitation services.

Schemes across Mansfield and Ashfield are also set to benefit from the fund.

Both WRAP and FareShare have well-established networks for funding local charities and delivering food, ensuring support can get to where it is needed as quickly as possible.

Part of the fund will also be available for smaller food distribution charities.

These supplies will be in addition to those already donated by businesses that have been working collectively, co-ordinated by the Institute of Grocery Distribution.

The funding is part of the £750 million pot announced by the chancellor for frontline charities across the UK during the coronavirus outbreak.

George Eustice MP, the environment secretary, commented: “Our frontline food charities are doing brilliant work amid a significant increase in demand – working in refuges, drop-in services, homeless centres and other places.

“It is absolutely vital they have the resources they need and this funding will help the most vulnerable in our society get the food they need at this enormously challenging time.”

Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of Fareshare, added: "We welcome this support from Defra to obtain vital food supplies, on top of the generosity already shown by the UK food industry.

“This will enable us to continue to supply much-needed food and drink to the many thousands of frontline charities and community groups across England.

Marcus Gover, chief executive of WRAP, added: “We’ve worked with Defra to create a grant scheme of support for the many organisations who are feeding the most vulnerable among us.

“This additional funding will be used to expand that essential work.”