Schools launch food pantries to help in cost of living crisis

Greatwood Community Primary and Nursery School in Skipton is part of a pilot programme

Food pantries have been launched by two schools in North Yorkshire in a bid to help parents, pupils and local residents with the cost of living crisis.

The schools are working with North Yorkshire Council’s Healthy Schools Team as part of a pilot programme to provide sustainable and affordable food supplies.

Pantries have opened at Greatwood Community Primary and Nursery School in Skipton and at Glusburn Community Primary School.

Jonelle Yeoman, head teacher at Greatwood Primary, said: "We’ve had an amazing response with more and more families visiting each week."

In the pantry at Greatwood Community Primary and Nursery School, people can buy 10 items for £5

Mrs Yeoman said that while Skipton was "an affluent town", there were still families there who were living in poverty and "this is our way of giving back".

However, she added that the pantry was "not a foodbank" and it relied on donations from local supermarkets and families.

"We are here for the community: for them to have a chat, share recipes to prepare healthy and cost-effective meals and buy essentials at reduced prices," Mrs Yeoman said.

"We are a sustainable school and we grow our own produce. We grow our fruit and vegetables and have our own chickens and ducks supplying eggs on a daily basis."

At Glusburn Community Primary, each weekly delivery is stacked at the food pantry trolley by pupils

Katie Smith, Glusburn Community Primary's head teacher, said: “The pantry is primarily run by members of our school ambassador team and school council. They are on hand to offer support and receive payment when families visit the pantry.

"This provides a great opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and experiences such as confidence and responsibility."

Mother-of-three Jade Robinson, who lives in Glusburn and regularly shops from the pantry, said: “It’s a wonderful scheme which reduces food waste and saves money."

"It has been a huge blessing this past year when things have been tighter and the cost of living is extortionate," she added.

The school ambassador team and school council at Glusburn Community Primary School have the responsibility of pricing up the products

Louise Wallace, North Yorkshire Council’s director of public health, said the pantries meant food did not go to waste.

"It’s a real boost to see the school pantries supporting families with sustainable and affordable food," she said.

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