A council has provided grant funding to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds to 10 organisations that supply free food to the community.
Last October 2023, East Staffordshire Borough Council launched a £33,000 Food Aid Fund designed to financially support up to 10 free food providers at a rate of £550 a month for a six-month period.
The scheme applies across the colder winter months and is aimed at supporting those organisations in more financial difficulty or hardship.
The authority has now confirmed that all 10 grants have been allocated to the following providers who cover the East Staffordshire area:
• Burton Caribbean Association
• The Community Church Burton & District
• Humanity Unites
• The Loveinspire Foundation
• Queen Street Neighbourhood Resource Centre
• Trent & Dove Housing
• Uttoxeter Heath Community Centre
• Waterside Community Youth Club
• Winshill Neighbourhood Resource Centre
• You1st Emotional Support CIC
Councillor Simon Slater, Cabinet Member for Communities and Regulatory Services, said: “Whilst it is disappointing that free food providers are experiencing a greater demand on their services, I am pleased that as a Council we have been able to support a number of local providers ahead of a difficult winter period.
“I know that for some, this funding will be the difference between continuing over the next 6 months and having to close, and I hope that the additional support will alleviate some of the pressure that other providers are experiencing.”
The £33,000 fund is part of a wider Cost of Living support package that includes schemes such as £50,000 towards improving energy efficiency in 150 residential properties; £40,000 in grant funding for the operation of community kitchens; £40,000 of grants for the provision of warm spaces; and more.
Cllr Slater added: “In the coming weeks, we also hope to be in a position to announce the details of a new, £150,000 three year food subscription service that will provide mobile food clubs to deprived areas of the Borough, providing residents with access to affordable food on a low-cost weekly subscription.”
