A new community food hub has opened in Consett, giving local families access to affordable, nutritious food at a time when household budgets are under increasing pressure.
The initiative is being delivered by national food charity The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT), which has launched a weekly hub at The Grove Primary School, helping residents stretch their weekly shop while also reducing food waste.
Since opening in November, the hub has grown steadily, with more than 50 local members already signed up. Each week, members can access three bags of food — fresh fruit and vegetables, chilled items and cupboard staples — for just £8.50. Options are available for individuals, larger families and vegetarians, Healthy Start vouchers are accepted, and a range of non-food essentials is also available at reduced prices.
More Than Just Affordable Food
The Bread and Butter Thing works by redistributing surplus food from supermarkets that would otherwise go to waste, supporting both household budgets and the environment.
But the impact goes beyond food. Each hub also acts as a community touchpoint, helping reduce isolation, bring people together and give families the chance to try new foods and meal ideas.
Rachel Crowe, Pastoral Support Officer at The Grove Primary School, helped bring the hub to Consett and says demand has increased week by week.
“We started just over a month ago and the numbers have grown every week. Money is tight for so many people, and this really helps make the weekly shop more manageable,” she said.
“We run the hub every week, including school holidays, so families can still rely on it during some of the hardest times of the year. There’s a fantastic team of volunteers — including local parents — and everything has been carefully set up so collections happen safely without people needing to enter the school.”
Community Support in Action
The hub has been supported through partnership working with local organisations, including charitable Community Benefit Society Karbon Homes, which provided both funding and practical support to help establish the project.
Local councillor Kathryn Rooney, who represents Consett North, welcomed the initiative and its wider benefits.
“This is food that would otherwise go to landfill, now going directly to families who need it,” she said. “It helps people try new foods, stretch their money further, and makes a real difference to the community while also helping the environment.”
Local residents have already seen the benefits first-hand. Stephen and Ann Embleton, who use the hub to support their family, said the service has been invaluable.
“It’s good value and it’s good for the community,” they said.
“We come along to get groceries for our daughter and her three children. It really helps and means the kids are going to get a substantial meal.”
How to Join the Food Hub at The Grove
The Bread and Butter Thing is open to everyone, and joining is free.
To sign up:
- Text: 07507 237311
- Include your name, postcode, and hub name: Grove School
Once registered:
- You’ll receive a weekly text asking if you’d like a food package that week
- Food is collected from The Grove Primary School on Mondays between 2:45pm and 3:15pm
- Payment is made on collection (cash or card)
- Healthy Start vouchers are accepted
- If needed, someone else can collect on your behalf
👉 Anyone who registers before February 2026 will receive their first food parcel completely free.
For more information, search The Bread and Butter Thing online or get in touch using the details above.
