By KLTV Newsdesk –
Next week, Senior Councillors are expected to bring in extra support for Kirklees residents to help them with the sharp rise in the cost of living.
One proposal of the council’s household support package would see, ‘The Bread and Butter Thing’, doubled in size across Kirklees. The award-winning affordable food service currently has four Kirklees hubs, they are in Chickenley, Dalton, Deighton, and Howden Clough with the fifth hub at Dewsbury Moor due to launch in the coming months.
The hubs have been a huge success in Kirklees with the demand exceeding the number of families that can be supported each week.
If approved by Cabinet, the five additional hubs will be funded for one year after which each hub will become self-sustaining.
Members of The Bread and Butter Thing can get shopping bags filled with approximately £35 worth of quality nutritious food for just £7.50. Each week members access three bags of produce including fresh fruit and veg, chilled goods, as well as cupboard staples such as pasta and cereal.
The Bread and Butter Thing works in partnership with supermarkets, factories and farms to redistribute surplus food. Food often ends up going to waste because it’s wrongly labelled or there is simply too much of it. Reducing their waste helps to reduce their environmental effects whilst supporting local communities.
Senior councillors will also decide how the £3.7million cost of living support fund from government will be used to support Kirklees residents.
Speaking on the potential approval, Cllr Paul Davies, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “The Bread and Butter Thing is a unique service and I’m extremely pleased that we are looking to grow the offer in Kirklees.
“Not only does it provide affordable, nutritious food, it also offers customers wrap-around support to help them with money, health, and debt advice.
“These hubs are in the heart of our communities and there is a sense of pride from the customers, the volunteers, and all the staff who make this service so special.
“I encourage my colleagues to approve this proposal so that more of our communities can benefit from this excellent offer.”
Cabinet will decide if the funding from the Household Support Fund should be used for all families entitled to free school meals to receive a one-off cost of living payment of £50 per child. This will help families who are experiencing extreme financial difficulties in Kirklees.
Families could expect to receive this money before Christmas and it would cost in the region of £925,000.
The remaining funding will help support vulnerable people with payments and grants such as vouchers to help meet daily needs such as food, clothing, and utilities. Residents who are facing financial hardship can apply for this funding through the council’s Local Welfare Provision Team.
To see the Full list of Hubs in Kirklees visit That Bread and Butter thing website.
Kirklees Council’s Local Welfare Provision Team can be contacted via the online form on the council’s website.