Community pantry scheme to be expanded across city

The Newcastle community pantry at Tree Top Village, in Walker, regularly attracts 40 people each week

Neighbourhoods across Newcastle are to get more community pantries to help people stretch their money further.

The Newcastle Foodbank scheme offers members the opportunity to pay £5 a week in exchange for £20 worth of food and household items.

The first pantry was started in Blakelaw in 2023, and three more have since been added, with the charity planning to open more in 2024.

Chief executive John McCorry said the pantries offered a “dignified and affordable shopping alternative” for people who did not want to visit foodbanks.

The West End food bank in Newcastle

Around 40 people a week visit a weekly session at Tree Top Village in Walker, with another session held at Newcastle United Foundation’s base near St James’ Park.

The community pantries work as food co-operatives and give members a choice to decide on the items they want to buy.

Mr McCorry said the price of food had "risen dramatically" in recent years with little sign of it slowing, and the charity wanted to reduce the pain of rising bills.

'Marvellous' experience

Recent figures from the North East Child Poverty Commission showed that more than a third of all babies, children and young people in the region were living in poverty.

Walker pantry manager Tim Boyer told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that people did not "need to prove" they needed to be there and that no checks were made on people's finances.

Doris Crawley, 66, said the shopping experience was "marvellous" and was "the best thing" she had ever come to.

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “There are 1.7 million fewer people living in absolute poverty compared to 2010, including 400,000 children.

“We know work is the best route out of poverty. That is why we have raised the National Living Wage and are investing billions through our Back to Work Plan, expanding our childcare offer and investing in children’s health programmes."