A charity based in Surrey that began as a food bank has grown into a powerhouse tackling food waste, food poverty and social isolation across the region – and at Christmas it provides up to 5000 roast dinners to spread Christmas cheer.

Surplus to Supper was co-founded by Claire Hopkins, who was working at a local food bank when she realised that supermarkets and businesses were paying to throw away perfectly good food. After realising food banks were struggling for food, whilst many shops and businesses had too much spare, she connected with Andy Osborne, Surplus to Supper’s other co-founder and CEO, to do something about it.

“I was the manager of a local food bank and we didn’t have any food. We started finding surplus food from Fareshare and I realised that there was really decent food being thrown away,” she explains. “Businesses were paying to dispose of it – it just didn’t make sense. That’s when I founded Surplus to Supper.”

Their first event, in 2016, a dinner made entirely from surplus food, down to the flowers on the table, raised £10,000. That success inspired them to build a model that connected local businesses with local charities, food banks, and community groups who needed help.

The events help fundraise the 30% of their costs that aren’t self-funded. Surplus to Supper signed up to easyfundraising, a free online fundraising platform that turns everyday shopping into donations for charities and good causes.

“One of my trustees told me about easyfundraising and said, ‘you’ve got to sign up – it’s super simple’,” says Claire. “I have it on my phone, and we promote it to our volunteers and community. All you have to do is press a yellow button and shop as normal – and it raises money for us.”

easyfundraising is the UK’s leading online cashback fundraising platform, which allows shoppers to turn their online shopping into free donations for good causes, including charities like Surplus to Supper.

Meaning when you shop with retailers like Tesco, Iceland and TK Maxx, a free donation is paid to a cause you care about as a percentage of your spend – at no extra cost.

In the two years since Claire and team learned what easyfundraising offered, Surplus to Supper has grown its fundraising total on the platform to over £500 – in completely free donations.

The charity was officially registered in April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Claire said it was a turning point for them. Now, Surplus to Supper redistributes five tonnes of produce every single day, reaching around 68,000 people a week through a network of hundreds of local charities, community groups, youth centres, halfway houses and food banks.

But as the festive season approaches, the charity’s work goes far beyond food deliveries.

Each Christmas, the Surplus team produces between 2,000 and 5,000 roast dinners, which are shared across the local area. “Corporate partners pitch in to help – some of them spend entire days rolling stuffing balls!” says Claire.

The charity also creates ‘Blessing Bags’ filled with festive treats like mince pies and chocolates, as well as household essentials to help families through the new year when money is tight. A free community Christmas lunch brings together around 100 people who might otherwise spend the day alone.

“We also run a toy event where families can pay £2.50 for a raffle ticket and receive a present worth £50,” says Claire. “It makes Christmas special for those who might otherwise go without.”

“We also do a breakfast with Father Christmas, making it more accessible to everyone in the community. We identify families that might sit between the cracks and don’t get much support.”

“For us, those small donations really add up. Whether it’s £2, £3 or £5 each time – that means more funds for our overheads. It’s such a simple way for people to support us without spending anything extra,” she adds.

Despite their success, the charity continues to face challenges. Supermarkets, once their largest sources of surplus food, have reduced their waste from around 40% to just 13% – meaning their supply of produce is less predictable than before COVID-19.

But Claire remains positive and is focused on growth, providing more support for the people who need it most. “We’ve opened a second hub in Merton, and the aim is to one day have a Surplus hub in every borough. We want communities to come to us with the gaps they see – and we’ll help fill them.”