Food hubs expand to help feed struggling families

A charity providing hubs with low-cost food has expanded to support struggling families.

The three new hubs, in Newton Aycliffe, Durham City, and Burnopfield, will help support thousands more residents get access to affordable food.

They are run by the charity The Bread and Butter Thing and will operate alongside 15 hubs already in the area.

The charity said it was currently helping 10,800 residents in County Durham, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The new centres are being funded by Durham County Council, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Councillor Alan Shield, cabinet member for equality and inclusion, said families using the hubs reported saving £25 on their weekly food shop.

“In a time when the cost of living is high, schemes like this help struggling families to access fresh, healthy food at a lower cost, allowing them to use the money saved towards other essentials," he said.

The charity's chief executive, Mark Game, said the food was surplus from supermarkets and farmers.

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