Affordable food club saving thousands for members to expand across Gateshead
Residents across Gateshead are accessing affordable, nutritious food and saving money through a growing partnership between the council and a charity food club.
To make health and social care support easier to access, Gateshead Connects Spaces have launched in community settings so people can get help from multiple services under one roof.
Now, Gateshead Council are working with national charity The Bread and Butter Thing to bring its affordable food club into Gateshead Connects Spaces, following the success of a pilot at Deckham Family Hub.
Members of the charity's food clubs are provided with a weekly shop which contain 80% fruit, veg and chilled produce, delivering maximum nutritional benefit at a low cost.
Though it only opened in September, by the end of 2025, volunteers had delivered the equivalent of 50,881 meals to 458 members at Deckham. By significantly cutting the costs of a weekly shop, these members made a cumulative saving of £41,113 over the same period.
Following the success of its first Gateshead food club, The Bread and Butter Thing has secured funding to deliver a three-year project with Gateshead Connects Spaces, which will bring five more food clubs to the borough during the project.
The next food club to open will be at Chowdene Family Hub in early February 2026.
Councillor John Adams, cabinet member for Adult Social Care at Gateshead Council, said:
"We're incredibly proud to see how our Connects Spaces are bringing a range of health and social care support to existing community hubs.
"By partnering with The Bread and Butter Thing, we can help people get low-cost food and social care help and advice all in one place.
"Becoming a food club member will mean more than saving money on a weekly shop. It will also welcome you into a community, and mean you can get help and advice on your health and wellbeing without making multiple appointments."
Local volunteers play a vital role in making the Bread and Butter food clubs work. In Deckham, volunteers contributed almost 900 hours to help run the weekly sessions between September and the end of 2025.
Vic Harper, Chief Executive of The Bread and Butter Thing, said:
"Our offer in Gateshead gives local families a space to share ideas, access good food, and support one another.
"We couldn't do any of this without our brilliant volunteers; their dedication brings the hubs to life and makes a real difference. That's what drives our work: people, access to healthy food, less waste, and stronger, more connected communities."
Anyone living in Gateshead can join The Bread and Butter Thing. There is no referral needed and membership is free.
To register, text 07507 237 311 with your name, postcode, and nearest hub.
More volunteers will be needed to help run the new food clubs coming to Gateshead. To find out more about The Bread and Butter Thing and the latest volunteering opportunities, visit www.breadandbutterthing.org.
Residents across Gateshead are accessing affordable, nutritious food and saving money through a growing partnership between the council and a charity food club.
To make health and social care support easier to access, Gateshead Connects Spaces have launched in community settings so people can get help from multiple services under one roof.
Now, Gateshead Council are working with national charity The Bread and Butter Thing to bring its affordable food club into Gateshead Connects Spaces, following the success of a pilot at Deckham Family Hub.
Members of the charity's food clubs are provided with a weekly shop which contain 80% fruit, veg and chilled produce, delivering maximum nutritional benefit at a low cost.
Though it only opened in September, by the end of 2025, volunteers had delivered the equivalent of 50,881 meals to 458 members at Deckham. By significantly cutting the costs of a weekly shop, these members made a cumulative saving of £41,113 over the same period.
Following the success of its first Gateshead food club, The Bread and Butter Thing has secured funding to deliver a three-year project with Gateshead Connects Spaces, which will bring five more food clubs to the borough during the project.
The next food club to open will be at Chowdene Family Hub in early February 2026.
Councillor John Adams, cabinet member for Adult Social Care at Gateshead Council, said:
"We're incredibly proud to see how our Connects Spaces are bringing a range of health and social care support to existing community hubs.
"By partnering with The Bread and Butter Thing, we can help people get low-cost food and social care help and advice all in one place.
"Becoming a food club member will mean more than saving money on a weekly shop. It will also welcome you into a community, and mean you can get help and advice on your health and wellbeing without making multiple appointments."
Local volunteers play a vital role in making the Bread and Butter food clubs work. In Deckham, volunteers contributed almost 900 hours to help run the weekly sessions between September and the end of 2025.
Vic Harper, Chief Executive of The Bread and Butter Thing, said:
"Our offer in Gateshead gives local families a space to share ideas, access good food, and support one another.
"We couldn't do any of this without our brilliant volunteers; their dedication brings the hubs to life and makes a real difference. That's what drives our work: people, access to healthy food, less waste, and stronger, more connected communities."
Anyone living in Gateshead can join The Bread and Butter Thing. There is no referral needed and membership is free.
To register, text 07507 237 311 with your name, postcode, and nearest hub.
More volunteers will be needed to help run the new food clubs coming to Gateshead. To find out more about The Bread and Butter Thing and the latest volunteering opportunities, visit www.breadandbutterthing.org.
