AN AFFORDABLE food scheme is launching in Darlington's Skerne Park Community Centre next week.

The Bread and Butter Thing's sixth Darlington hub will open on Monday, March 1.

TBBT's affordable food scheme is now available across Darlington five days a week. The project has been so successful in the first nine months that Darlington Borough Council has invested in a second van for the town, meaning a further five hubs will open in 2021 helping to make life more affordable for Darlington residents.

Originally launched in March 2020 at Corporation Primary School with financial support from Cummins, Darlington Building Society and the council.

TBBT's affordable food service means that for just £7.50, TBBT members’ shopping bags are filled with a minimum of £35 worth of items made up of quality fresh food and store cupboard staples from supermarkets.

Councillor Jonathan Dulston, Deputy Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome a sixth Darlington hub for The Bread and Butter Thing. Everyone can see the success it has had in bringing affordable food to our communities in the past nine months, and long may that continue.”

Mark Game, TBBT CEO said: "Darlington is our first series of hubs outside Greater Manchester and I'm delighted that our work has had such a profound effect on the local community. We look forward to continuing to grow in the town and supporting low income communities locally. Obviously the pandemic has had a profound effect on many people, and we are continuing to see our member numbers grow. By providing quality food at an affordable price, we are proud to be helping families feed their kids and people eat more healthily."

This latest Darlington hub opening comes as part of a significant expansion of TBBT's work across the North East. The charity's first hub in Hartlepool opened February and there will be 20 hubs operational across the region by mid 2021 as the organisation builds from its recently opened warehouse in Chilton, Co Durham. Like many organisations, 2020 brought significant change for TBBT. In April 2020 alone, it a 460% increase in need year-on-year as it worked to support members as well as Manchester City and Darlington Borough Councils' emergency COVID responses. During the following months to December, membership grew by 50% from 8,000 to 12,000 members and the charity served the equivalent of 3.2m meals.

In addition, TBBT is creating new jobs in the area and is currently recruiting two new team members. The service is also reliant on the dedication and enthusiasm of its volunteers with over 200 people giving their time to the charity each week which won the Queen's Award to Voluntary Service last year. Anyone interested in volunteering - at the new hubs, the warehouse or as a driver - can find out more and get in touch through TBBT's website www.breadandbutterthing.org.

People interested in using TBBT affordable food service need to register as members and should contact TBBT at hello@breadandbutterthing.org or text 07537 416040. There is also a sign up form and more information at www.breadandbutterthing.org

The address for the new hub is Skerne Park Youth and Community Centre, Coleridge Gardens, Darlington, DL1 5AN.

NB: Details of the further County Durham, Darlington and Hartlepool hubs, dates, times and collection details will be announced at a later date.