Hospitality & Hope Launch the “Food Hub”

South Tyneside based Hospitality & Hope charity launch the “Food Hub”; a dedicated Community space relating to “All things Food” at Horsley Hill Square.

Thursday 18 September saw the Food Hub grand opening. The community space will deliver a programme of FREE cooking courses and demonstrations for adults, men-only and families, to help increase confidence and skills in making from scratch, healthy, nutritious low-cost meals in a fun, friendly and informal setting. Secondly, it will provide an opportunity for all residents to have access to low-cost nutritional, balanced home-style, ready-made foods.

The workshops will ensure local residents can experience new meals & new foods from across different food genres, at no cost to themselves, enabling longer term, better food choices, with ingredients and tuition provided FREE for each workshop. H&H are working with a range of tutors, restaurants and food businesses, with the aim of the retention of investment in the local area.

Open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday, with plans to open Saturdays too, in the very near future, the Food Hub also serves home cooked nutritious, balanced meals (sit in or take away) from just £2. A “Meal in a bag” option which includes all ingredients and a recipe included for just £3 each, to take away or to cook at home. Plus, access to our existing Community Shop, offering a range of fresh, frozen, dried & tinned foods, sold at cost price to residents, aimed at helping to top up & stretch out the monthly food budget in these challenging times. Any residents who live within 1.5 miles of the Food Hub/Community Shops (in work or out of work) can access the Food Hub, Welbeing activities, and community shop. All that is required to become a member is to provide a proof of address e.g. Utility bill.

Food hope speeches — Left to righ: Peter Maloney: CEO of H&H, Audrey Huntley; Mayoress of South Tyneside, Councillor Tracey Dixon: Leader of ST Council, Carol Gorman: Operations Director H&H, Councillor Rachael Taylor (Green Party), Kate Donkin: Food & Activities Manager H&H, Jonnie Halling: STOC Good Food Partnership coordinator & members of the public

Peter Maloney, CEO of Hospitality & Hope said:

“Our new Food Hub is a fantastic addition to our range of services within the Borough, complementing our already existing Community Shop and Wellbeing Activities Hub at Horsley Hill.

“Working in partnership with South Tyneside Council our Food Hub will further enable us to deliver on two of our three priority goals; tackling food insecurity and improving community wellbeing. Food waste reduction and the promotion and supporting of a good food movement and economy are also some of the other outcomes that will be achieved. All integral to the delivery of South Tyneside’s Sustainable Food Action Plan.

“Our Community Shops, Wellbeing Activity Hubs and new Food Hub are all pivotal to the achievement of our vision; for the community of South Tyneside to live with an increased sense of hope for a positive and self-reliant future. Each create a place for our community to come together for support, meet new people, build confidence, learn new skills, have fun and combat loneliness. I am delighted that H&H have been chosen to receive funding through the recently announced Borough wide Community Regeneration Partnership. My heartfelt thanks to South Tyneside Council for their support in enabling this.”

Councillor Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, responded:

“We are proud to support Hospitality & Hope in the development of their new Food Hub, a vital addition to the services available to our residents.

“Through funding secured via the transformative £20m Community Regeneration Partnership, this initiative reflects our commitment to tackling poverty and promoting sustainable food practices across the Borough. The Food Hub will empower local people with the skills and confidence to make healthier food choices, while also strengthening our local food economy and reducing waste.

It’s a fantastic example of how collaborative working can deliver real, lasting benefits for our communities.”