Milton Keynes Council has marked the launch of the city’s newest community food larder in Beanhill with regional charity SOFEA.
The Moorlands Community Food Larder was unveiled on Friday at Milton Keynes Council’s Moorlands Family Centre.
The food larder has been set up with SOFEA, a regional charity that works to support children and families through its own grassroots projects and initiatives including community food larders.
Last year, the council's findings from the Child Poverty Commission found that almost 23,000 children and young people in Milton Keynes are living in poverty.
The commission helped MK Council to identify specific projects to support and help deliver across the city aimed at reducing rates of child poverty.
The Moorlands Community Food Larder will be open from next week and access is granted through SOFEA’s flexible membership schemes.
Memberships start at just £3.50 per week and will provide up to £15 worth of subsidised fresh food and drink.
Cllr Jane Carr, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities and Child Poverty said: “I welcome the launch of the Moorlands Community Food Larder in Beanhill and look forward to seeing more larders roll out throughout the city soon.
"We’re committed to tackling child poverty in MK and have set a target of reducing rates by 20% by 2025. We’ll continue to support these kinds of initiatives and we actively encourage other local agencies, town and parish councils to join the scheme with SOFEA.”
Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “This is the first time an MK Council children or family centre has hosted a SOFEA community food larder project.
"Our fantastic team at Moorlands Family Centre in Beanhill engages with thousands of people every year so I anticipate the new partnership being really well-used and liked by local families who visit the centre.”
To sign up as a member and start taking advantage of the new Moorlands Community Food Larder in Beanhill, visit the SOFEA website here.
