TOWIE star Ferne McCann has joined forces with Deliveroo as a partnership ambassador to help raise awareness of hunger in the UK and encourage customers to use the in-app round-up function. The first-time mum was "humbled" when she visited an Essex food bank and said it was "simply not right that more and more people need to use food banks across the UK."
Deliveroo says one million meals have already been donated to food banks via partnership with the Trussell Trust. Deliveroo diners use a simple round-up feature in the app, donating funds that will go to those who need help the most.
Deliveroo says that since the start of its partnership with the Trussell Trust five months ago, one million meals have been donated to 1,300 food banks. Customers can either round-up the cost of their order to the nearest pound, or make a donation when they come to confirm their order, with all proceeds going to the Trussell Trust.
Over the five-month period, over 450,000 customers in the UK have donated. Deliveroo says their research conducted in July reveals almost one in 10 parents (8%) had to use a food bank during the school holidays over the past year to help them provide food for their family.
The delivery company says one in eight parents (13%) are very likely to need to use a food bank in the next three months. One in 4 parents (25%) were very concerned about having enough money to afford food for them and their family over the next two months.
Last month Ferne, from The Only Way Is Essex show, visited her local food bank in Essex, which is part of the Trussell Trust’s network to volunteer, meet the team, and see the support provided on the ground to the local community. Ferne also met Claire, a single mum, who has experienced using the local food bank, to learn about her story and how the food bank has helped her.
Ferne said: “It was humbling to visit the food bank in Essex and speak to Claire to see firsthand the incredible support they and their volunteers are providing to help families facing hunger. I want to do all I can to raise awareness that more and more people need to use food banks across the UK and that this is simply not right.
"I’m proud to join Deliveroo and the Trussell Trust’s campaign as an ambassador. I support the work they’re doing to provide up to 2 million meals to food banks and help raise awareness about the ways people can help if they are in a position to.”
Carlo Mocci, Chief Business Officer UK & Ireland at Deliveroo, said: “The cost of living is continuing to rise for people in the UK. Families are being forced to make incredibly difficult decisions.
"Our partnership with the Trussell Trust is providing vital support for people facing hunger, and I want to thank all Deliveroo customers in the UK who have donated so far. Together with our consumers, we are committed to helping to tackle hunger across the UK.”
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “With millions of people currently going hungry we must do more to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. We are extremely grateful for Deliveroo’s support and the generosity of their customers who have donated through the in-app round-up function.
"As the nation faces a rapid rise in the cost of living, people on the very lowest incomes are bearing the brunt of this crisis. In recent months, the food banks in our network have provided 50% more parcels to people across the UK compared to before the pandemic, with one parcel being distributed every 13 seconds.
"The kind donations of Deliveroo’s customers are not only helping to provide emergency food to people who can no longer afford the essentials. They also allow us to provide additional support and advice to people who visit the food bank centres in our network."
As part of Deliveroo’s Full Life campaign, the nationwide partnership is aiming to provide up to 2 million meals by April 2023, as well as vital support for people facing hunger across the country. The donations raised go towards providing emergency food parcels that contain at least three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced meals, as well as practical support and advice to people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Deliveroo employees have also been volunteering for the charity at local Trussell Trust food bank centres. The Trussell Trust is a charity which supports a UK-wide network of 1,300 food bank centres and works towards a more just future where no one needs emergency food to get by.
