TBBT expanding in Tameside
The Bread and Butter Thing expands its award-winning affordable food service in Tameside in partnership with Tameside Council
Weekly service launching on 14th July at St Peter’s Church, Manchester Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 0BA
Two further hubs will open in coming weeks at Houghton Green Community Centre and Ridgehill BigLocal
The Bread and Butter Thing has teamed up with Tameside Council to expand its innovative, affordable food service in the borough.
A hub has already been operating in Hattersley since 2018 and now, thanks to external grant funding, Tameside Council has commissioned a new hub to open at St Peter’s Church in Ashton-under-Lyne on Wednesday 14 July.
Two further hubs will open in coming weeks at Haughton Green Community Centre and Ridgehill BigLocal as the Tameside scheme grows to reach areas of greatest need.
For just £7.50, TBBT members’ shopping bags are filled with a minimum of £35 worth of items made up of quality fresh food - including fruit and veg - as well as store cupboard staples. Vegetarian options are also available. As the service is created from surplus food, the contents vary from day to day and week to week offering plenty of variety and the chance to try new foods.
National manufacture and distribution of food generates edible surpluses that are often wasted. TBBT team is expert in working with food businesses in providing them a reliable service to redistribute these surpluses - helping reduce their environmental effects whilst increasing their positive impact in communities by creating a quality, affordable food service for people on low incomes.
Within the last year, TBBT has doubled its reach from its Trafford origins. A second TBBT warehouse opened in County Durham in November 2020, new vans have taken the fleet to 11, and almost 50 hubs are now operational across the North of England including 17 in the North East and 31 in the Greater Manchester area.
With its community-centred focus, the charity supports other vital local work and works to provide wrap-around support with experts in debt counselling, housing advice, mental health support and grant applications.
Tameside Council Executive Member Cllr Eleanor Willis said: ““We’re very pleased to be able to work with this project in reaching more local families who are struggling. Not only will it offer people on low incomes access to quality food at an affordable price – which is especially welcome as we are still seeing the effects of the Covid crisis - it also means that surplus food is being used and not wasted, so it’s a great result all round.
“The grant forms part of our wider work with Tameside Food Partnership to reduce food poverty and increase food resilience in the borough. A special thanks goes to all the volunteers who work with us on the project and who help to underpin its success – it’s a great example of cooperative working and the community coming together to support each other.”
Mark Game, TBBT Chief Executive added: "I'm delighted that we can expand our services in Tameside to support more low income families who face the daily challenges of making ends meet. As the effects of Covid continue to bite, we know that more people than ever need access to affordable, quality food and we're proud to be working with Tameside Council to support communities that need it most.
"Our members tell us that over 80% of them have previously had to skip meals to feed their families. By using TBBT, most save £25 a week on their food budgets with the added benefits of better quality and a bigger variety of food, and we save tonnes of surplus edible food from going to waste. It's a win/win solution for everyone. We're looking forward to working alongside our local partners in Tameside to serve its communities and help support low income families across the region."
The service is reliant on the dedication and enthusiasm of its volunteers, with over 300 people giving their time to the charity each week which won the Queen's Award to Voluntary Service last year. Anyone interested in volunteering - at the new hubs, the warehouse or as a driver - can find out more and get in touch through TBBT's website Contact Us — Bread and Butter Thing
There are no joining criteria. People interested in using TBBT affordable food service need to register as members and should contact TBBT at hello@breadandbutterthing.org or text 07860 063256. There is also a sign up form and more information at Contact Us — Bread and Butter Thing.
Details of the further Tameside hubs, dates, times and collection details will be announced in due course.