More Nottinghamshire families to benefit from affordable food clubs

More families across the county struggling with the cost of living are benefitting from a scheme that aims to improve access to affordable and healthy food.

Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) clubs offer families a range of good quality food including fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dried and tinned foods each week for just £3.50.

The latest FOOD club has just launched at Bingham Children’s Centre Service.

Like all the Nottinghamshire FOOD Clubs, it is supported by the national charity Family Action and funded through a grant by Nottinghamshire County Council and the Childhood Obesity Trailblazer Programme, with additional funding from the district and borough councils.

There are now 18 FOOD clubs running in every district of the county, with more opening in the coming months.

Last year, families saved over £150,000 on their food shopping and over 1,600 families were supported in November alone. However, these figures are expected to be much higher in 2022.

John Doddy, chairman of the health and well-being board, 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.”

Louise Reilly, national food services operational manager for Family Action, said: “Helping families build brighter lives is at the core of what Family Action does.

"Not only do the FOOD clubs provide vulnerable families with good quality, healthy foods, they are also helping to drive down food waste and reduce social isolation.”

FOOD clubs work in partnership with other local services, such as Your Health, Your Way (the county’s healthy lifestyle service) who have provided recipes to inspire families to cook healthy meals together.

As some of the FOOD clubs are based within the children’s centre service, families can also benefit from other support, advice and signposting to services in the local area for any additional needs.

The FOOD Clubs also help to reduce waste in the food industry.

The food is provided by FareShare, an organisation that takes good quality surplus food and re-distributes it to charities, breakfast clubs and homeless shelters.

To find about more about FOOD Clubs and how to join, click here.