The rising number of food banks around the country has been a constant theme of the current period of ‘austerity’ but a scheme from the Northampton Hope Centre offers a new way of tackling food poverty.
The Hope Food Club will allow people to register as members and then buy food at very low cost.
The aim is to support people on a very low income who are not in the same position as rough sleepers who might have no access to funds at all.
“The project will make a real and lasting difference to food poverty in Northampton, which we all know is increasing, and marks an exciting new departure for Hope alongside our continuing homelessness work,” said Robin Burgess Chief Executive of Northampton Hope Centre and Hope Enterprises.
A Crowdfunder page has been set up for the project at:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hope-foodclub
On the page it says: “we will grow healthy veg and salad, and supply this alongside tinned and packaged food, plus toiletries, at 1/3 shop prices to a new and wider group of people on low incomes.
“Our customers are people who live out on Northampton’s estates, and who struggle to put food on the table within the resources they have…
“People on low incomes will be able to join our food club and through membership can get access to subsidised food, delivered through pop-up shops in community projects, on deprived estates where they live.
“It’s a radically different model from the foodbank system, and we think offers more dignity and sustainability.”
