South Tyneside and Sunderland among councils sharing almost £10 million for affordable food

South Tyneside and Sunderland councils are among 45 local authorities in England sharing almost £10 million in government funding to improve access to healthy and affordable food. Hartlepool and Middlesbrough councils are also on the list. Newcastle City Council is not among the recipients, although Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, a separate authority, is included.

The councils were chosen because they have the greatest levels of deprivation and childhood obesity. Each will receive £222,000 to develop its own approach to local food needs.

The money, known as Good Food Neighbourhoods funding, could pay for community food shops, mobile greengrocers, lunch clubs, community kitchens, and cooking and nutrition programmes. It could also help councils plan for and meet local food needs.

The government said 9% of people lived in food insecure households in 2024/25, and that children in the most deprived communities are significantly more likely to experience obesity and related health inequalities.

The programme was developed following work by the Citizen's Advisory Council and conversations with civil society organisations. It will also work with businesses, charities and philanthropy to build on existing community projects and bring additional funding into local areas.