The Cumberland Building Society is making its biggest-ever charity donation, committing £500,000 over two years to help combat food poverty.
The regional mutual, based in Carlisle, Cumbria, decided last year to focus its charitable efforts where they could have the greatest impact, identifying food poverty as a key issue in its core operating areas.
In response, it launched the ‘Kinder Kind of Kitchen’ initiative.
In June 2023, it gave £250,000 – its largest ever charitable donation – to FareShare Lancashire and Cumbria, which supports community food projects.
This year it will donate another £223,000 to FareShare Lancashire and Cumbria plus £27,000 to FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland to alleviate food poverty in Dumfries and Galloway.
Claire Deekes, chief customer officer at The Cumberland, said: “This year it is clear once again that many people are struggling to afford the basics, and demand remains high, so we took the decision to continue the Kinder Kind of Kitchen initiative and extend its reach.”
The Cumberland has just published The Kinder Cookbook to celebrate the partnership, which can be found here.
The Cumberland’s initial donation supported 52 community food projects, serving the equivalent of 577,047 meals and diverting 242 tonnes of food – that would otherwise have gone to waste – to people in need.
The initiative also distributed four tonnes of pet food and three tonnes of toiletries and baby food, while a pledge to donate £2 for each vote cast at the Cumberland’s AGM paid for 66 fridges.
Alasdair Jackson OBE, chief executive of Recycling Lives, the charity that delivers FareShare Lancashire and Cumbria, said: “We know the struggles our members have faced in recent years – demand is ever-increasing. Initiatives like this are helping us all to meet this need and make sure people don’t go hungry.
“Many of our groups have used the additional funding to expand their provision and many have welcomed volunteers from The Cumberland’s branches to help get food out. It’s been a real team effort.”
