Feeding Families
Feeding Families is a UK charity delivering free, tailored emergency food boxes to families in crisis across the North East through 212+ partner organisations, funded by donations, grants, and fundraising events, and operating a centralised packing hub with regional distribution and a new wholesale Regional Food Hub.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersGateshead, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Feeding Families does
Feeding Families is a UK-registered charity (number 1179694, founded 2017) headquartered in Blaydon-on-Tyne, North East England, that delivers emergency food support to families facing crisis across the North East. Its core offering is a portfolio of free, tailored food boxes — standard emergency boxes (2–3 day supply), low-cook and no-cook boxes for those without kitchen access, culturally appropriate boxes including halal options, rough sleeper packs, toiletry and hygiene packs, housing transition packs, birthday celebration boxes, and Holiday Hunger packs — distributed through a network of 212+ trusted community partner organisations including schools, NHS teams, local authorities, housing associations (Places For People, Karbon Homes), and grassroots charities. Recipients access support without vouchers or referrals, and over 40,000 boxes are delivered annually. The charity also runs a Six-Week Stability Programme supporting transitions onto Universal Credit, out of institutions, or into independent living, and in 2025–2026 piloted HAF Recipe Boxes with video content for school holiday periods.
The underlying operating model is a centralised packing and distributed delivery network: food is packed at the Blaydon warehouse and shipped to regional hubs in Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Durham, where partners collect or receive delivery. A new wholesale "Regional Food Hub" (launched 2026 in partnership with Gateshead Food Partnership, scaling a prior Green Heart NE CIC pilot) enables community food organisations to purchase at wholesale prices with free delivery, repositioning the charity as an upstream supplier within the regional food-support ecosystem. The organisation is funded through individual donations, corporate grants and sponsorships (Greggs Foundation £40,000 over two years; National Lottery £16,000 in 2026; plus Karbon Homes, AtkinsRéalis, P&G, Leonard Curtis, Janus International, Hay & Kilner, Barbour Foundation, Cello), fundraising events (Great North Run, Pure Imagination Ball, Women Who Rise), legacy giving, and in-kind food donations. Operationally it runs on 9 paid staff and 7 volunteer Trustees under new CEO Wayne Dobson (2026), with a board including senior leaders from CT LLP, Northumbrian Water, and Gentoo. There is no AI/ML capability evidenced; the technology stack is limited to SaaS tools (Enthuse, Beacon Forms, Volunteero) supporting fundraising, forms, and volunteer coordination.
Feeding Families firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Feeding Families
- Legal name
- Feeding Families
- Website
- https://feedingfamilies.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Feeding Families is a UK charity delivering free, tailored emergency food boxes to families in crisis across the North East through 212+ partner organisations, funded by donations, grants, and fundraising events, and operating a centralised packing hub with regional distribution and a new wholesale Regional Food Hub.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Feeding Families industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Food Assistance
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding) (BPAGAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA), Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), School Feeding & Social Protection Partnerships (Conditional Cash Transfers, etc.) (EDADALAL)
Keywords
Where Feeding Families is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gateshead
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Feeding Families business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Public donations from individuals supporting the charity's mission, including one-time and regular giving.
- Corporate Grants and Sponsorship: Funding from corporate partners such as Greggs Foundation (£40,000 over two years), National Lottery Awards for All (£16,000), and other business supporters.
- Fundraising Events: Revenue from organized events including Great North Run participation, Pure Imagination Ball, Women Who Rise networking lunch, and general fundraising activities.
- Legacy and Memorial Giving: Gifts left in wills and memorial donations in memory of loved ones.
- Food Donations: Physical food donations from workplaces, schools, community groups, and supermarket collections that support operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Donation/ grant-funded | One time | Holiday Hunger Pack Donation |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Feeding Families product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Feeding Families is a registered charity that provides free, tailored food boxes and toiletry packs to families and individuals in crisis across North East England. Food is packed centrally at its Blaydon warehouse and distributed via a network of 200+ community partner organizations, with no charge to recipients and no referral or voucher requirements. The charity also operates the Regional Food Hub, a bulk-buying service that supplies community food organizations at wholesale prices.
Product overview
Feeding Families operates as a food support charity offering emergency food boxes and related services across the North East. The organization provides a portfolio of food assistance products including emergency food boxes, low-cook/no-cook boxes, culturally appropriate options (halal), rough sleeper packs, toiletry packs, holiday hunger packs, birthday celebration boxes, housing transition packs, and a six-week stability programme. Additional services include the Regional Food Hub (bulk-buying for partner organizations) and seasonal Christmas food box campaigns. The organization distributes through a network of 200+ partner organizations including schools, housing providers, NHS teams, and grassroots charities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Emergency Food Boxes Free emergency food boxes containing long-life, nutritious items lasting around 2-3 days, provided to individuals and families facing crisis across the North East and distributed via partner organisations.
- Low-Cook and No-Cook Food Boxes Food boxes designed for people with limited or no kitchen access, individuals in temporary accommodation, and those facing high cooking energy costs.
- Culturally Appropriate Food Boxes Specialized food boxes including halal options, developed with care and consultation to meet cultural dietary requirements of families including refugees and new arrivals.
- Rough Sleeper Packs High-protein snack packs requiring little or no preparation, designed for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleepers.
- Toiletry and Hygiene Packs Essential hygiene items and cleaning kits provided alongside food support for people in need, including those moving into new homes.
- Holiday Hunger Packs Food packs and support provided during school holidays when children lose access to free school meals, including activities for children.
- Birthday Celebration Boxes Special boxes helping families mark important moments such as birthdays with dignity when household finances are stretched.
- Housing Transition Packs Food and essential items provided to new tenants moving into housing with nothing in their cupboards, distributed via housing association partners.
- Six-Week Stability Programme A six-week support programme for people moving onto Universal Credit, into independent living, or out of institutions such as prison, hospital or care, providing sustained food and essentials support.
- HAF Recipe Boxes Recipe boxes containing ingredients for hot, healthy meals, with easy-to-follow recipes and step-by-step video content for families during school holidays, delivered under the HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme.
- Christmas Food Boxes Festive food boxes filled with essential food and Christmas treats, delivered to families across the North East during the holiday season.
- Regional Food Hub Bulk-buying food service for community food organisations (food banks, social supermarkets, community kitchens) offering wholesale prices and free delivery, backed by Feeding Families' warehouse and logistics network.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 40,000 food boxes delivered annually across the North East
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Feeding Families
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Feeding Families technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Feeding Families partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Gateshead Food PartnershipcoreJoint partnership to scale the successful 'Food Hub' pilot across the North East region. Feeding Families brings warehousing, purchasing power and logistics infrastructure while Gateshead Food Partnership contributed 18 months of dedicated work establishing the model.
- Green Heart NE CICcoreFounded by Andy Redfern, Green Heart NE CIC established the Food Hub pilot over 18 months, testing and adapting approaches to food supply until a sustainable model was found. Now transitioning to Feeding Families for scaling.
- The Junction MultibankcoreHub partner providing essential items such as food, toiletries and household goods through a trusted partner network, ensuring individuals and families in crisis can access practical support quickly and without barriers.
- Love, AmeliacoreHub partner supporting families with babies and young children by providing essential items such as clothing, equipment and nappies, ensuring every child has the best start in life through compassionate, practical support.
- County Durham Furniture Help SchemesupportingProvides pre-loved household items each year, working with local partners to help people furnish homes while offering guidance and opportunities for personal development through volunteering and training.
- Rethink Mental IllnesscoreThrough their RECONNECT service, Rethink supports people leaving prison or immigration removal centres with health needs. Feeding Families provides food support to individuals experiencing financial hardship alongside mental health challenges.
- Doorways MiddlesbroughcoreCharity providing hot meals and practical support to people experiencing homelessness. Receives rough sleeper packs, hygiene packs and essential food boxes from Feeding Families, helping respond flexibly to those seeking support.
- North East Chamber of CommercesupportingPartnered with Feeding Families to deliver 'Childhood Matters: Tackling Poverty in the North East' event, bringing together business, policy, education, academia and voluntary sector representatives.
- Northumbria UniversitysupportingProfessor Greta Defeyter OBE, Dean of Social Mobility & Policy Engagement, participated as keynote speaker at Childhood Matters event, sharing research insights on holiday hunger and food insecurity.
- Feeding BritainsupportingAndrew Forsey OBE, National Director, participated as keynote speaker at Childhood Matters event, sharing insights on community-led solutions to food insecurity and the Holiday Activities and Food programme.
- Places For PeoplecoreMajor housing provider partner distributing food boxes to residents in need across their housing portfolio in the North East.
- Karbon HomescoreHousing association partner supporting families in their properties. Event sponsor for Women Who Rise 2026, demonstrating commitment to community partnerships.
- South Tyneside CouncilcoreLocal authority partner providing community support and funding for food distribution initiatives in South Tyneside.
- Gateshead CouncilcoreLocal authority partner. Working with Feeding Families on HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme and Food Hub partnership for community food provision.
- Durham County CouncilcoreLocal authority partner supporting food distribution across County Durham.
- Gateshead CollegesupportingEducational partner providing catering for events and student involvement in HAF programme. Catering students provided refreshments at Childhood Matters event.
- Cook Me HappysupportingLocal videographer and recipe creator developing family-friendly recipe content and step-by-step videos for HAF recipe boxes.
- Feeding BritainsupportingNational food charity network member, part of Feeding Britain affiliated network providing mutual support and best practice sharing among food charities.
- DoorwayscoreReceives food boxes and essential supplies through Feeding Families partnership network to support people facing homelessness and hardship.
- Hospitality & HopecorePartner organization receiving food boxes for individuals in need, supporting the charity's mission to provide hot meals and practical support.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Feeding Families competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Feeding Britain: National charity network coordinating community-led responses to food poverty; Feeding Families is a Feeding Britain affiliate and shares the network's Holiday Activities and Food programme focus, making it a directly comparable peer in policy advocacy and coordinated service delivery.
- Magic Breakfast: UK charity tackling child food poverty with particular focus on school breakfast provision and holiday hunger - overlapping directly with Feeding Families' HAF programme and school-based distribution channels.
- FareShare: UK's largest charity redistributing surplus food to a network of community organisations; directly comparable as a food poverty charity using a partner-network distribution model to reach vulnerable families across regions.
- Real Junk Food Project: Network of pay-as-you-feel community cafes intercepting surplus food; comparable peer in the surplus-food redistribution model and community-empowerment ethos that distinguishes dignity-first food charities from traditional food banks.
- Trussell Trust: Operates the UK's largest network of food banks with a partner-distribution model analogous to Feeding Families, but emphasises traditional voucher-based referrals; comparable as the dominant counter-position in the emergency food aid space.
- The Bread and Butter Thing: UK charity operating community food clubs that provide affordable food through partner hubs; highly comparable in the hub-based, dignity-preserving food distribution model Feeding Families uses through its Blaydon warehouse and regional hubs.
Regional players
- City Harvest: London-based food surplus redistribution charity operating the same surplus-to-need food model through community partners; a comparable peer in operating model but limited regional overlap (London vs North East).
Peers
- Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN): UK umbrella network of independent food banks operating outside the Trussell Trust model; Feeding Families' dignity-first, no-voucher approach aligns it more closely with IFAN's member organisations than with traditional referral-based food banks.
Emerging players
- Social Pantry / Locality food hubs (UK): UK social sector support network and local food hubs that operate similar community-led food support models; relevant as an ecosystem peer addressing the same vulnerable populations through localised infrastructure.
Broad incumbents
- Food Foundation: UK food policy think tank and advocacy body influencing the national food poverty agenda; a broad incumbent whose research and policy work underpins the operating environment for charities like Feeding Families.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Feeding Families social profiles
Digital presenceFeeding Families financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Feeding Families leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Feeding Families funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Feeding Families M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Feeding Families
What does Feeding Families do?
Feeding Families is a registered charity that provides free, tailored food boxes and toiletry packs to families and individuals in crisis across North East England. Food is packed centrally at its Blaydon warehouse and distributed via a network of 200+ community partner organizations, with no charge to recipients and no referral or voucher requirements. The charity also operates the Regional Food Hub, a bulk-buying service that supplies community food organizations at wholesale prices.
Is Feeding Families a public or private company?
Feeding Families is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Feeding Families founded?
Feeding Families was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Feeding Families based?
Feeding Families is headquartered in Gateshead, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Feeding Families make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Grants and Sponsorship, fundraising Events, legacy and Memorial Giving and food Donations.
Who are Feeding Families's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Feeding Britain, Magic Breakfast, FareShare, Real Junk Food Project, Trussell Trust and The Bread and Butter Thing. City Harvest is listed as a regional player. Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) is listed as a peer. Social Pantry / Locality food hubs (UK) is listed as an emerging player. Food Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Feeding Families have an API?
No public API is recorded for Feeding Families.
What industry is Feeding Families in?
Feeding Families's product category is Charitable Food Assistance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAAAD, Food Assistance & Nutrition Relief (Emergency Feeding), with a secondary code of BPAGAEAA, Food Assistance & Food Banks. Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 8300.