Our team is honoured to have been recognised at a handful of awards ceremonies this autumn.
We received our first ever award at the South Yorkshire Sustainability Awards, being named Community Initiative of the Year.
We joined a livestream with hundreds of other individuals from other FareShare centres at the Network Volunteer Awards. Our very own Josh, Daz and Howard were recognised for their huge contribution to our service. Howard was a joint winner for Warehouse Volunteer of the Year, Daz was a joint winner for Driver Volunteer of the Year and Josh was highly commended for Leadership in Volunteering. During the event, we also awarded our long-serving volunteers with personalised hi-vis vests to thank them for their dedication.
At the Sheffield Business Awards, we were named Community Initiative of the Year and highly praised for our work with the many organisations we support across the city.
Then at the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce Awards, we were delighted to be named Charity of the Year for 2023/24.
Finally, our CEO, Gareth Batty MBE, received one of the most prestigious awards of the night the Taste of Yorkshire Awards. Deliciously Yorkshire surprised Gareth with the Judy Bell Yorkshire Food Hero Award – the first time a charity leader has received this award.
Upon receiving the award, Gareth said; “I am shocked and really humbled. I’d like to accept this award on behalf of everyone connected with FareShare Yorkshire who work so hard every day to feed people across the county. Thank you to everyone for the support you give us.”
2023 has been a difficult year for our team, with the Cost-of-Living Crisis coming quickly on the back of the haulage and health crises, all of which affected us and the people of Yorkshire so heavily.
This county-wide recognition of our staff and volunteers is deeply appreciated and we are honoured to be recognised among the incredible charities that work tirelessly each day right across Yorkshire.
Jonathan Williams, Head of Development, says he is proud of the whole team for their incredible work; “We are all really humbled to receive these awards and accept them on behalf of everyone who enables FareShare Yorkshire to perform its work. We simply would not exist without our incredible community of partners, but their support has enabled us to rise to the huge challenges of the last few months and years. All told that donation of time, expertise, funds and food contributes to 4 million meals each year, using something that we, as a society, were ready to throw away.”