Award-winning affordable food project comes to Doncaster
· Three new hubs to open in Thorne, Mexborough and Carcroft
· Supported by City of Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
· Families can save over £25 a week on their food budgets
Award-winning affordable food charity, The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT), is opening its first hubs in Doncaster, taking its mobile food clubs to Thorne, Mexborough and Carcroft this summer.
Working with City of Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the charity will open five hubs in total, bringing the benefits of its affordable food to hundreds of local families, providing innovative support to people at the sharp end of the cost-of-living crisis.
The first Doncaster hub will launch at The Rugby Clubhouse in Thorne on 3 August, followed by a hub at Mexborough launching on 16 August and a hub in Carcroft launching on 1 September.
Founded in Manchester in 2016, The Bread and Butter Thing takes quality, nutritious food to more than 100 communities across the north of England from Cheshire to Northumberland and as far afield as Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
At its weekly hubs, TBBT’s members access three bags of food comprising 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 savings, digital exclusion and mental health support.
Mark Game, CEO The Bread and Butter Thing said: “I’m pleased to be bringing our affordable food clubs to Doncaster and South Yorkshire to provide long-term, sustainable support to local communities.
“TBBT is about creating routes out of poverty and building strong communities. Our members tell us that over 80% of them have previously had to skip meals to feed their families. By using TBBT, most save at least £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.”
Councillor Nigel Ball, Cabinet Member for Public Health said “We know that the cost of living has unfortunately meant that some people in our communities are finding it difficult to get by. There are a host of local initiatives across the city to support people in Doncaster, with many good, local groups and people working to provide help and support to those who may need it. Residents can find support on our Your Life Doncaster website https://www.yourlifedoncaster.co.uk/cost-of-living”
How to join:
Joining is simple. There are no joining criteria. People interested in using TBBT’s affordable food service need to register as members and should text 07860 063304 or use the contact form at Contact Us — The Bread and Butter Thing with their name, address, postcode and hub they would like to join. Once registered, members receive a weekly text offering the food service which they can then collect from their hub.
Want to help?
The service is reliant on the dedication and enthusiasm of its volunteers, with over 500 people giving their time each week to the charity which won the Queen's Award to Voluntary Service in 2020. Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more and get in touch through TBBT's website at Contact Us — The Bread and Butter Thing or direct with their local hub.
The hubs:
THORNE: The Rugby Clubhouse, Church Balk, Thorne DN8 5BU
Opening - 1.30pm, Thursday 3 August
MEXBOROUGH: Mexborough Community Hub, New Oxford Road, S64 0JL
Opening: 1.30pm, Wednesday 16 August
BULLCROFT: Bullcroft Memorial Hall, Chestnut Ave, Carcroft, DN6 8AP
Opening: 1.30pm, Friday 1 September
South Yorkshire Food Security Schemes
In response to the cost of living crisis, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) approved the release of funds to provide a local response to make food more affordable for vulnerable people. SYMCA delegated funding to each local authority to develop a food security scheme. To find out more about your local authority’s response to the cost of living crisis head to:
Doncaster: https://www.yourlifedoncaster.co.uk/cost-of-living
Rotherham: https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/money-matters
Sheffield: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/cost-of-living
About the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
We are the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).
Led by Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard, we bring together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and the private sector through our Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The Mayor, MCA and LEP have a shared purpose to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire. We work together to unlock the potential of our people, businesses and places and ensure they prosper.
Our Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) provides the blueprint for how we will transform our region. We will keep people and businesses moving and help them grow, delivering a world-class public transport network and attracting investment to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire by 2040.
Our vision is to grow an economy that works for everyone. We will develop inclusive and sustainable approaches that build on our strengths in innovation and embrace the UK’s 4th Industrial Revolution, to contribute more to the country’s prosperity and enhance quality of life for all.
We have powers and resources, devolved from Westminster to South Yorkshire, which mean we can take decisions locally about our economy, transport, skills, housing and infrastructure.
We use these to create a vibrant, thriving South Yorkshire where people want to live and work.
We attract new investment to our region. We build the conditions for inclusive economic growth which benefits everyone. We help create good jobs, by backing businesses to grow, invest and locate in South Yorkshire.
We support people so they have the training and skills to find work, remain in work or progress in work. We help businesses secure the skills they need to be more productive and grow.