Funding boost for Peak food banks

Buxton-based High Peak Nightstop and Gamesley’s Bare Necessities Food Bank have each received £4,000 while £1,000 has been awarded to New Mills Helping Hands food bank. The money will be used to help food banks feed more people by buying fridges and storage boxes, cover additional volunteer and vehicle running costs, and pay for training, administration and rent.

Cllr Dave Allen, cabinet member for health and communities, said: “The rising cost of living, static incomes and changes to benefits and unemployment have meant increasing numbers of people in the UK have hit a crisis that forces them to go hungry.

“It’s been termed a public health emergency by leading medical experts and we feel it is the right thing to do to support working people on low incomes and those in the most severe financial need who are struggling to put food on the table.”

The authority is supporting appeals encouraging people to volunteer and some libraries and other council buildings will act as food collection points.