Worries for food scheme over Birmingham's finance woes

Claire Mutchell from the Big Feed said she was worried about the future of the project

A community food project, set up to help people cope with the rising cost of living, has said it was worried about its future because of Birmingham City Council's financial problems.

The Active Wellbeing Society's Big Feed gets part of its funding from the authority, which declared itself effectively bankrupt in September.

Big Feed is waiting to hear whether the funding will carry on.

The council said it would continue to "do what we can".

Cami is one of those helped by the Big Feed project in Birmingham and goes days without food

The Big Feed uses surplus food to help hundreds of people a week at four locations in Birmingham.

Cami, one of those receiving help at All Saints Church in Small Heath, said: "I can go two, maybe three days without food."

She lives on just £40 a month after bills and said she was unable to pay off her £600 electricity bill, despite receiving a £300 cost-of-living contribution.

She said: "Coming up to Christmas, there's days when I have to go without heating. I mean two t-shirts, two jumpers, you name it, I have to [wear all that]."

Sharon Thompson said the authority would "do what we can"

Clare Mutchell, manager of the Big Feed, said she was worried for the future of the "essential service" in light of the council's situation.

Sharon Thompson, deputy leader of the city council, said the project would continue to get its grant funding from central government, but added: "It's also about being clear that we're moving into another phase of it with the council's current financial situation."

She said she expected other agencies would be "stepping in with their resources", while the council would be "continuing to do what we can".

The authority started its cost-of-living support last winter and funded 243 warm banks, more than 100 foodbanks and helped 3,400 households with their energy bills.