Kirklees Together

The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) is one of the UK’s leading community food organisations and has brought its innovative affordable food clubs to Kirklees. Working in partnership with Kirklees Council and Third Sector Leaders, an additional hub is opening in Heckmondwike.

Where is the new hub?

This new hub at Heckmondwike United Reformed Church, 137 High Street, Heckmondwike WF16 0DY will open at 2pm, on Monday 12 June. The Bread and Butter Thing hubs provide access to low cost and nutritious food. They also provide access to wraparound services that offer advice and support on finances, employment and health.

What can you get?

Members of The Bread and Butter Thing can get shopping bags filled with a minimum of £35 worth of quality nutritious food for just £8.50.

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. Futhermore, families can use their NHS healthy start vouchers and low cost period products will also be available.

Councillor Paul Davies, Kirklees Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said:

“I am very excited about the partnership with The Bread and Butter Thing and the launch of this new hub. 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. Food that often ends up going to waste because it’s wrongly labelled or there is simply too much of it. Therefore, by reducing their waste, this helps to reduce their environmental effects whilst supporting local communities.

Mark Game, CEO of the Bread and Butter Thing said:

“Our work is having an impact in low income communities by reducing stress around food and enabling families to eat healthily and affordably.

“Working in conjunction with Local Authorities and local community partners allows us to spread our service even further and support more people who need it. Our Heckmondwike hub will be our 100^th nationally, demonstrating the powerful impacts that our food clubs can have in enabling our members to make their household budgets stretch further.

“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.

If you are worried about rising household costs, help is available. 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.