Two Brighton-based community projects have come in for praise after Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas met with organisers and volunteers to learn more about their work in the city.

The Green MP visited Brighton & Hove FareShare, a service run by City Gate Community Projects, which takes good quality food that would otherwise be thrown away and distributes it to charities feeding vulnerable people in the city.

It also provides valuable work opportunities for the long-term unemployed.

She then went on to meet with volunteers at Safe and Sorted, an advice service for young people run by Sussex Central YMCA.

Based in Brighton, the organisation helps local youngsters to find work and access health and social care services.

Commenting on her visits to FareShare and Safe and Sorted, Caroline said:

"Hard working volunteers in organisations such as FareShare and Safe and Sorted play an invaluable role in helping to make Brighton a better, fairer and greener place.

"The work of FareShare in helping to feed the poorest and reduce food waste in Brighton & Hove is incredibly inspiring.

"Last year the service recovered 300 tonnes of perfectly edible ‘waste' food from manufacturers and retailers in the city - a real victory for local sustainability.

"The fact that the organisation also offers people with little or no work experience a chance to train, work and build their confidence, shows that it's possible to tackle social and environmental problems at the same time.

"Safe and Sorted also does a fantastic job in providing vital assistance to young people, getting them into work and helping them to lead independent lives - with very little in the way of funding or resources.

"Organisations such as these deserve far wider recognition and support for the services they offer."

ENDS

Notes to editors

FareShare is a national UK charity supporting communities to relieve food poverty. See here for more information about the Brighton and Hove service.

Safe and Sorted is a drop-in service which offers free information, advice, guidance and support to young people (10-25 years).