What are Food Clubs?
"The Bread and Butter Thing offers more than basic food – It gives
dignity, increases belonging, and improves healthy food access,
while reducing the stresses associated with struggle."
Dr Megan Blake
We work hard to bring nutritious, fresh food directly where it's needed most;
into communities where access is limited by affordability and availability. We make
sure that no matter what our members are going through, they can still put tasty, healthy food on the table. It’s free to join, no referral needed and more importantly, no judgement. Just big smiles and even bigger shopping bags.
Because of this, our hubs have become the beating heart of the neighbourhoods we support. A trusted space which offers a dignified, positive experience, which reduces stigma and helps families to ‘put food on the table’. Of the 61% of our members who have used food banks, 39% have been able to reduce or stop using food banks since joining.
These clubs are often found in places like community centres, church halls, and even local schools. By using these central neighbourhood spaces, we make access easy and also help bring people together to create connections and strengthen communities.
Why are Food Clubs needed?
According to the latest food insecurity tracker from The Food Foundation (July 2024), 7.2 million adults and 2.7 million children in the UK are food insecure – that’s 13.6% of the population.
Food clubs tackle the two main culprits of food insecurity: Access and affordability.
Access: At least 10% of deprived areas in the UK are classified as “food deserts,” where supermarkets are hard to reach. Food clubs bring food directly to these communities.
Affordability: People experiencing food insecurity often struggle to afford healthy food.
Investing in preventing food insecurity is not only more cost-effective, but it helps people and communities become more resilient too.
What are the benefits of Food Clubs?
Food clubs are the secret weapon in the fight against food insecurity because they solve two problems in one go – tackling food waste and filling empty fridges.
Some of the key benefits include:
Healthier Diets: There’s a focus on fresh fruit, veg and a wider variety of food on offer. This allows families to cook and eat more nutritious homemade meals, leading to long-term health benefits.
Reduced reliance on food banks: Food clubs help keep people away from the emergency food system, reducing reliance on food banks.
Connecting communities: By tackling social isolation, food clubs help create lasting community connections.
Community resilience: Food clubs empower communities to come together and additional services can provide wider, long-term support.
Food clubs are about building resilience and offering more than just emergency support. They’re designed to be part of everyday life, creating a positive and sustainable way to help low-income communities access healthy food.
Everyone welcome: Food clubs have no joining criteria or contract which means anyone can use the service for as long or as little as they need.
The Growing Food Club Landscape
Organisations like The Bread and Butter Thing are bringing together key players in the affordable food club sector.
Right now, we estimate there are around 1,000 food clubs across the UK – and that number is growing.
In fact, a 2023 survey by the Food Standards Agency showed that
more people used food clubs than food banks in England for the
first time.
Reveal the Power of Food Clubs: It’s Time to Share the Secret
While food clubs are seen as a positive step in addressing food insecurity by academics and supporters, they’re still under the radar for the food industry, government, and the general public.
Want to understand more about our food club model? We’d love to hear from you.