£100,000 to help feed families in former mining communities

In a bid to tackle the alarming levels of food poverty, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the only organisation dedicated to supporting the 5.7 million people living in former mining communities, has unveiled The Coalfields Food Insecurity Response Fund, in partnership with Company Shop Group.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will provide £50,000 worth of funding to eligible initiatives that address food insecurity.

For funding involving feeding families and children, Company Shop Group will match fund, creating a fund value of up to £100,000.

The funds will ultimately be distributed to local people, particularly children and families, in the form of vouchers that can be redeemed for food and drink in Company Shop stores.

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 if job losses increase.

“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 and, if successful, will be granted membership to Company Shop, a redistribution supermarket, which will maximise their purchasing power.

In addition to the match funding, the discounts offered by Company Shop Group mean for every £10 spent, a project will typically get £30 in goods.

Steph McGinty, retail, people and communities director, said: “We have worked closely with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for many years and are thrilled to be partnering on this new initiative which will help both organisations to reach even more children and families across the coalfield communities, at a time when they will benefit from our support the most.”