On 26 January 2026, Gateshead Council and The Bread and Butter Thing announced a three‑year plan to open five new affordable food hubs across Gateshead, Tyne and Wear to help families save on their weekly shop. The programme provides fresh, healthy food at low cost to help residents manage the rising cost of living.
The expansion follows a successful pilot at the Deckham Family Hub in late 2025 and will roll out five additional sites over the next three years. The next hub is set to open at the Chowdene Family Hub in early February 2026, offering residents in the area a cheaper way to buy groceries.
Members pay £8.50 for three bags of food — typically one bag of fresh fruit and vegetables, one of chilled items, and one of cupboard staples — with the contents valued at roughly £35. Members save on average between £25 and £35 a week compared with supermarket prices.
Gateshead Council has integrated the project into its Gateshead Connects spaces and is supporting it using part of its Household Support Fund allocation of approximately £4.6 million for the 2025/26 financial year. Karbon Homes has provided a £75,000 grant to support three of the new hubs.
Residents can join the food club by texting their full name, postcode and the name of the hub they wish to join (for example, “CHOWDENE”) to 07507 237 311. There are no eligibility checks or referrals required to sign up. The food is redistributed surplus from supermarkets, food manufacturers and farmers that would otherwise go to waste.
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