Kirklees Council continues to expand an affordable food scheme to help communities impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

The Bread and Butter Thing has hubs in Dalton and Sheepridge in Huddersfield; Chickenley in Dewsbury; and Howden Clough in Batley.

A fifth hub in Dewsbury Moor was approved by Cabinet in October and now another is set to open in Cowlersley on Tuesday January 17 at 2pm. The latest hub is at Cowlersley Community Out of School Club, 156 Cowlersley Lane, HD4 5UX.

The Bread and Butter Thing is a national initiative which provides access to low cost, nutritious food, as well as wraparound services that offer advice and support on finances, employment and health.

Members of The Bread and Butter Thing can get shopping bags filled with a minimum of £35 worth of quality nutritious food for just £7.50.

Each week members access three bags of produce including fresh fruit and veg, chilled goods, as well as cupboard staples such as pasta and cereal. Families can use their NHS healthy start vouchers and, in support of period poverty, low cost period products will also be available.

It’s a Bread and Butter Thing! How struggling families across Kirklees can get £35-worth of quality food every week for just £7.50

Clr Paul Davies, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for corporate services, said The Bread and Butter Thing provided a real boost and added: “I know that some families across our communities are struggling to put food on the table and the cost-of-living crisis is only adding more pressure.

“These hubs will make a big difference to those families, not only by providing affordable, nutritious food but also by offering other kinds of support and advice.

“We will be working closely with The Bread and Butter Thing team to help make this project a success.”

TBBT works in partnership with supermarkets, factories and farms to redistribute surplus food and CEO Mark Game said: “Our work is having an impact in low income communities by reducing stress around food and enabling families to eat healthily and affordably.

“But we can’t ignore the fact that the rising cost of living is driving demand for our affordable scheme at an unprecedented rate with more than double the amount of new families registering each month compared to last year.

“Our members tell us that over 80% of them have previously had to skip meals to feed their families. By using TBBT, most save over £25 a week on their food budgets with the added benefits of better quality and a bigger variety of food. This leads to healthier lifestyles and puts money back in people’s pockets.”

Joining the Bread and Butter Thing is simple, there is no joining criteria. Anyone who would like to become a member to access the affordable food service can send an email or text to hello@breadandbutterthing.org or text 07860 063304. Alternatively, there is an application form and more information at www.breadandbutterthing.org/contact.

If you would like to help by volunteering at one of the new hubs you can find out more and get in touch through the website www.breadandbutterthing.org.