A third community food hub is to open in Kirklees to help support people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
One of the UK’s leading community food organisations, The Bread and Butter Thing, will open its latest hub in Sheepridge today (Friday July 15).
Working in partnership with Kirklees Council, and with support from key funder, Huddersfield-based Cummins Turbo Technologies Ltd, hubs are already running at Chickenley Community Centre in Dewsbury and at Dalton & Rawthorpe Library in Dalton.
The third Kirklees hub opens today at The Chestnut Centre, 2a Chestnut Street, Sheepridge, and will provide access to low cost, nutritious food. It will also provide access to services offering advice and support on finances, employment and health.
Members of The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) 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.
TBBT works in partnership with supermarkets, factories and farms to redistribute surplus food. This is food that often ends up going to waste because it’s wrongly labelled or there is simply too much of it. By reducing their waste, this helps to reduce their environmental effects whilst supporting local communities.
Two more hubs are being planned for Kirklees during 2022 and details of these will be announced soon.
Clr Paul Davies, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet member for corporate services, said: “I know that some families across our communities struggle to put food on the table and the pandemic and cost of living crisis has only added more pressure.
“This project 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 TBBT team to help make this project a success.”
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.
Once registered, members will receive a weekly text with details on where and when they can collect their produce – and the first week is free.
If you are worried about rising household costs, help is available from Kirklees Council. For advice or support with energy bills, food bills and making sure you’re claiming all you’re entitled to visit: www.kirklees.gov.uk/cost-of-living
