£100,000 to help tackle food poverty

A new initiative has been launched to tackle the alarming levels of food poverty in former mining communities.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has unveiled The Coalfields Food Insecurity Response Fund in partnership with Company Shop Group.

The Trust will provide £50,000 worth of funding to eligible initiatives that address food insecurity while for funding involving feeding families and children, Company Shop Group will match fund, creating a fund of up to £100,000.

Successful applicants for projects feeding family and children could be awarded £2,500 by Coalfields Regeneration Trust plus a further £2,500 from Company Shop Group.

Andy Lock, head of operations (England) for the

Coalfields Regeneration Trust, said: “Since lockdown, we have seen an unprecedented demand for food banks as poverty and hunger has hit. This is expected to get worse as job losses intensify and hours are cut. “Before COVID-19, our communities were already experiencing significant health inequalities, with this added adversity, they are in crisis and need our help in accessing good quality, healthy and affordable food.

"Whether we support food banks, food parcel schemes or meal delivery services, we must get food onto the table of those people that cannot afford it.”

Projects can apply for up to £2,500 worth of vouchers.

Visit www.coalfieldsregen.org.uk/england/ the-coalfield-food-insecurity-response-fund/