Food Clubs in Newark, Ollerton, Bilsthorpe and Clipstone to benefit those struggling
Clubs offering healthy food at affordable prices will now benefit residents struggling with the cost of living.
The Food (Food On Our Doorstep) Clubs in Newark, Ollerton, Bilsthorpe and Clipstone are part of a 21-strong network across the county provided by national charity Family Action.
Club members will pay £3.50 for a bag of food worth around £15 so long as they live within 15 minutes of the club and have paid the £1 yearly membership.
Nottinghamshire Food Clubs co-ordinator Martha Skinner — who has operated the club at Beaumont Walk Community Centre on Strawberry Hall Lane, Newark — said some families were currently struggling with the increase in inflation.
“The cost of living crisis means families have less and less money in their pockets for things like healthy food,” said Martha.
“We hear stories like a mum-to-be on maternity leave using Food Clubs because she doesn’t have enough to live on, or an elderly woman having to turn to us for help because all of her bills have increased but her income has not.
“The Food Clubs are a lifeline for people, giving them food and also advice on how to make the best use of the supplies they have. Plus our incredible volunteers find it a overwhelmingly positive experience, helping to build their confidence and reduce social isolation.”
Food Clubs help to reduce waste in the food industry as the food is bought from FareShare — an organisation taking good-quality surplus food from the food industry and redistributing it to charities, breakfast clubs and homeless shelters.
The clubs also work in partnership with the county and district and borough councils, as well as services including the Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme, Your Health, and Your Way (the county’s healthy lifestyle service) which has provided recipes to inspire families to cook healthy meals together.
Clubs are based in the children’s centre service, so families can also benefit from other support, advice and signposting to services for any additional needs.
John Doddy, chairman of the health and wellbeing board at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We know that people are worried about the cost of living and we know things are difficult for families.
“These Food Clubs show that we are committed to levelling up and reducing health inequalities. We now have a Food Club in every district of Nottinghamshire, giving people extra support to get healthy and affordable meals for their families.”
The Newark Food Club is open on Thursdays, from 2pm to 4pm; Lifespring Centre on Sherwood Drive, Ollerton, is open Thursdays 1pm to 3pm; The Green Centre on The Green, Bilsthorpe, is open Fridays 10am to noon; and the community centre on The Circle, Clipstone, open Thursdays noon to 2pm.
To find out more about Food Clubs, go to the Family Action website.
