Cash grants totalling £823,000 have been given by the city council to projects which are providing food to Birmingham residents.

One-off grants of mainly £5,000 are going to 168 organisations, including foodbanks, food clubs, food pantries, social supermarkets and community cafés. The money is primarily for buying food but can also be used for hygiene products, baby food and formula, and pet food where appropriate.

This winter the city council is using part of its Household Support Fund allocation to provide the funding. Councillor Mariam Khan (pic), Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “There are so many food projects doing incredibly important work in the city and we want to continue to support them as they respond to the cost of living crisis. 

“Often these projects themselves are really struggling so it is vital we help them survive so they can help our most vulnerable residents.” Organisations receiving the emergency food aid fund have met certain criteria, such as being a non-profit, community or charitable organisation which provides food for the community, demonstrating existing work providing food to those who need it, along with showing a need for funds and how the funding will be used.