A charity and the local council are opening five new affordable food clubs in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, to help residents save money on their weekly groceries. This move follows a successful pilot in the Deckham area and will make low‑cost food available at several community buildings across the borough.
The clubs are run by the charity The Bread and Butter Thing in partnership with the Gateshead Food Partnership, which works to make sure everyone in the area has access to good food. Members pay a small fee for bags of surplus food from supermarkets and manufacturers, with a family‑sized shop costing £8.50 for around £35 worth of items such as fresh fruit, vegetables and chilled goods.
A new club will start at the Chowdene Family Hub in the first week of February 2026, joining other local sites identified through the Gateshead Connects programme. These Connects spaces are designed to be easy for residents to visit and offer a range of services alongside the food bags, including sites such as Pelaw Library and Felling Family Hub.
Gateshead Council is funding the project through its Household Support Fund; the council states that £3.2m is available from this fund to support households up to 31 March 2026. Officials say the clubs provide a welcoming environment where people can also find help with their health and finances while they do their shopping.
It is free to join the scheme, and residents do not need a referral or to provide proof of income to sign up. Organisers estimate that families who use the clubs regularly could save between £500 and £1,000 every year on their food bills.
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