A community food hub is to open a second base in the district using funding from the UK Shared Prosperity fund, administered by South Kesteven District Council.
The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT), which offers members a choice of weekly groceries at reduced prices, is to open its doors in Market Deeping on Tuesday 26th March.
It follows on from the first South Kesteven hub, which opened in Stamford last year.
In February 2023, South Kesteven District Council 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.
It works in partnership with supermarkets, factories and farms to redistribute food that would otherwise go to waste.
Cllr Rhea Rayside, Cabinet Member for People and Communities, said: “The Council is proud to support this growing initiative to help people meet the rising cost of living in South Kesteven, giving help to those who need it the most.
“What makes it more remarkable is that it sources supplies from food that would normally go to waste, from supermarkets, factories and farms.
"It is the third individual initiative of its kind in the District and we are very fortunate to have them here at a time when so many families are struggling. George’s Food Hub and Second Helpings - both founded by George Hetherington in Stamford - acknowledge the need to redistribute food to those experiencing food poverty. I hope The Bread and Butter thing assists more of those individuals in need, although we acknowledge there are still many we are unable to reach.
"I look forward to all these projects working together to support the communities and we look forward to welcoming the next hub for our district.”
At its weekly hubs, TBBT members can access three bags of fruit and vegetables, chilled food and cupboard staples at discounted prices, to feed their families, improve their diets and save money for other household priorities.
Around £35-worth of food is offered for £8.50 each week including fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled food for the fridge and cupboard staples such as pasta and cereal. The food offering changes daily, which means bags change from week to week, meaning some weeks the savings will be greater than others.
TBBT Chief Executive Mark Game said: “We are pleased to be bringing our affordable food clubs to Market Deeping to provide support to the people of South Kesteven via the Iron Horse Hub.
“We are all about creating long-term, sustainable routes out of poverty and building strong communities.
“We’re looking forward to getting to know our new communities and spreading the benefits of our affordable food project to more families struggling to feed themselves and their dependents well and healthily.
By using TBBT, most members save at least £25 a week on their food budgets with the added benefits of better quality and a bigger variety of food, leading to a healthier lifestyle and putting money back in people’s pockets for them to spend on other priorities.”
The funding through SKDC came from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 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 further TBBT launch dates and venues will be announced in due course.
The Bread and Butter Thing runs mobile affordable food clubs, supporting people in low income communities to feed themselves and their families well. Every week we offer our members access to fruit and veg, cupboard staples and fridge favourites at deeply discounted prices. But that is just the start.
Our mission is to unleash the power of food and ignite long-lasting change in struggling neighbourhoods across the UK. We build bridges out of food deserts, bringing nutritious, affordable food to the centre of the UK’s most deprived communities and nourish them. We change lives. And we give voice to the people who use us – our members. We are the everyday – the bread and butter - baked into the heart of our communities.
To sign up to TBBT
Step 1 - Text 07860 063304 with your full name, postcode, and the name of the hub you will be collecting from, in the Deepings this is: IRON HORSE
Step 2 - Select the size of order you want to receive: Family - £8.50. Also available are Individual - £5, or Large Family - £17. There is a Vegetarian option available too.
Step 3 – TBBT will send a text every Sunday to see if an order is required. Just reply “YES” by 10:am the next day; the order will be delivered to the Deeping Hub on Tuesday at 2pm.
Step 4 – Collect and pay from The Iron Horse, Market Deeping.
Everyone who signs up before 29 June 2024 will get their first order free.