A community food organisation that helps people on low incomes eat more healthily is planning to establish five hubs across South Kesteven.
Founded in Manchester in 2016, The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) operates mobile affordable food clubs offering quality, nutritious food. It is currently working in 95 locations across the country.
South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) has agreed £152,000-worth of funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) that will enable TBBT to establish two mobile hubs in Grantham, and one each in Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings.
Cllr Rhea Rayside, Cabinet Member for People and Communities, said: “Sadly, many people across our District are struggling to make ends meet, but this is a great initiative that will make life a little easier for some.
“As a Council, we are proud to be supporting the work of The Bread and Butter Thing and to be providing additional support for those residents who need it most, improving local access to healthy food and reducing financial strain for our residents.”
TBBT works in partnership with supermarkets, factories and farms to redistribute surplus food that would otherwise go to waste because it’s wrongly labelled or there is too much of it.
At its weekly hubs, TBBT’s members access three bags of fruit and veg, chilled food and cupboard staples at deeply discounted prices, enabling them to feed their families, improving diets and saving them money for other household priorities. Heathy Start cards are accepted and low cost period products are also available.
TBBT extends the benefits of its hubs further by working with partners to provide expert advice and practical solutions in income maximisation, energy, digital exclusion and mental health support.
Mark Game, Chief Executive of TBBT, said: “We aim to unleash the power of affordable food and use it to ignite long-lasting change in struggling neighbourhoods.
“Our members tell us that over 80% of them have previously had to skip meals to feed their families. By using TBBT, most save £25 a week on their food budgets, money which they can then use for other household priorities. They also benefit from better quality and a bigger variety of food. Plus, we save tonnes of surplus edible food from going to waste.
“We are delighted to be working with SKDC to bring the benefits of our mobile food clubs to five new communities across the district.”
SKDC has been allocated £3,898,582 from the UKSPF as part of the Government’s Levelling Up process. The fund can support projects that build pride in place, improve the places where people live, and that support individuals and businesses to thrive. Details of TBBT launch dates and venues will be announced in due course.
