Member Article

Durham food bank to expand following £400k Lottery grant

A food bank covering County Durham will expand after getting a £400k grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

The Durham Christian partnership will use the money to increase the number of food distribution points, provide debt advice and take on a further 60 volunteers.

The food bank is one of 10 groups in the region to receive a share of a £2.7 million pot from the lottery.

Debt help services and disadvantaged youths also received funding.

Peter MacLellan, chairman of trustees of Durham Christian Partnership, told the BBC: “In three years the food bank has grown from one distribution point to 25 and provided three days of food to more than 15,000 people in the last 12 months - up from 10,803 in the previous 12 months.

“Low income, debt and issues with the benefit system have been the major causes of crisis.”