Food banks
The Trussell Trust runs several food banks in North Yorkshire. You will generally need a voucher from a local referral agency to access their help. Find out if there is a food bank near you and how you can get help on the Trussell Trust website.
You can also find food banks run by some other organisations on The Independent Food Aid Network website.
Free school meals
Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are automatically entitled to free school meals, but parents and carers who are eligible for certain financial support may also be able to get free school meals for children at primary or secondary school. Find out about qualifying and how to apply on our free school meals page.
Healthy start scheme
If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four, you may be entitled to NHS support to help you buy healthy food and milk. Find out more on the Healthy Start scheme website.
Food reuse schemes
There are national and local initiatives to stop food from being wasted and help people save money. Lots of businesses offer food that would otherwise go to waste at much lower prices through free apps like Too Good to Go and Olio.
Visit the Too Good to Go website
Community fridges
Lots of communities have set up community fridges to give people access to food that might otherwise go to waste. These are generally open to anyone to use without any need for a referral. The Hubbub Foundation website lists some community fridges and your local Community Support Organisation may have information about other local free fridges or pantries in the area.
Other useful information
Visit our cost of living support page for information about other support schemes and organisations in North Yorkshire that can help if you are struggling to pay for essentials or are looking for ways to make your money go further.