More than 400 KPMG UK colleagues from across the Midlands took part in the firm’s ‘Big Walk’ initiative last month, raising £25,000 in support of charity partner FareShare.
FareShare helps to fight hunger by saving food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to communities across the country.
The charity reaches nearly a million people in need each year through its network of over 8,000 local charities. It was announced as KPMG UK’s new national charity partner in October 2024, as voted for by the firm’s colleagues.
The Midlands-based Big Walk, through which colleagues could choose to walk 2km, 10km or 20km, took place at Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire and is just one of 10 events organised by KPMG taking place across the UK from Aberdeen to Cornwall.
Every £1 raised by KPMG could allow FareShare to redistribute the equivalent of five meals to a person in need. By the end of the three-year partnership, KPMG has pledged to raise £1.5 million to support FareShare’s work, as well as providing crucial pro bono support and volunteering hours.
Andy Bostock, Midlands office senior partner at KPMG, said: “Our Big Walk at Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire’s National Forest was a fantastic opportunity to raise much needed funds for a very worthy charity.
“As one in seven people in the UK go hungry, we want to help FareShare in its efforts to make sure everyone gets access to a good meal and prevent unnecessary food waste at the same time. It’s been terrific to join forces with so many colleagues from across the region and our event alone means more than 125,000 meals will go to people facing hunger in our local communities.”
Kirsty Ford, head of fundraising at FareShare, said: “We are hugely grateful to all the KPMG colleagues who took on this challenge in support of FareShare. The money raised will go a long way to supporting our work to get good-to-eat surplus food, which might otherwise go to waste, to people who need it.
“Every penny donated by KPMG will help FareShare power the redistribution of surplus food to over 8,000 charities across the UK. The food we supply helps support community services that promote wellbeing, tackle isolation, and change lives.”
