‘In the Bag’ fight against food insecurity back for winter… and you can help!

DONATE NOW to support 'In the Bag' and help beat hunger this winter!

Sussex Cricket’s fight against hunger is back for another round this winter, with the sooner-than-expected return of the ‘In the Bag’ initiative.

After the success of the scheme over six weeks in August and September, it had already been decided that 'In the Bag' – run together by Sussex Cricket Foundation and Brighton & Hove Food Partnership - would return every year during the school summer holidays.

But having heard of the difference made by 'In the Bag', the team behind cricket commentary website, Guerilla Cricket, got in touch with Sussex Cricket Foundation with the offer of a fundraising drive to enable the return of the scheme this winter.

Guerilla Cricket set an ambitious target of raising of £3,500, enough to provide a thousand recipe and ingredient bags to families in need in Brighton & Hove.

Thanks to the generosity of Guerilla Cricket listeners, over £1,000 has already been raised in the two weeks since the fundraiser was launched.

Tony Bishop, Guerilla Cricket commentator and marketing lead said: “Guerilla Cricket is delighted to support 'In the Bag' with Sussex Cricket Foundation.

“With warmth and generosity, our global community of followers are already donating to help this fantastic cause. Huge thanks to them. We know they will continue to do so.”

Sussex Cricket’s Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler added: “It is brilliant to have the support of the Guerilla Cricket community which has allowed us to bring In the Bag back for the winter.

“Food insecurity is an issue all year round so to be able to make a difference in the same way we did over the summer is something we’re really pleased about.

“It would be brilliant if even more people in the cricket community donated to the campaign in the coming weeks so we can get out and provide as many recipe kits as possible.”

Vic Borrill, Director of Brighton and Hove Food Partnership said: “Winter is a challenging time for those with a low household income. Heating bills and school holidays put pressure on already tight household budgets and Covid-19 has exacerbated this. 

"‘In The Bag’ helps families in poverty to eat well by providing all the ingredients and a simple recipe to make a healthy family meal. Over the summer we gave out 1,247 bags and this winter we'd love to reach even more families. Thank you for all your support in helping ensure that no child goes hungry this winter.”

Now 'In the Bag needs you' – the wider cricket community - to smash through the target and beyond!

Hit hunger for six! £21 is enough to pack and deliver six food bags to families in need in Brighton & Hove this winter.

Run a quick single! £3.50 pays for one food bag to help combat hunger in our community this winter.  

Help fight hunger this winter by giving whatever you can to Guerilla Cricket’s In the Bag fundraiser. Make your donation HERE!

If your business or organisation would like to help raise money for a future edition of In the Bag, let us know!

What is 'In the Bag'?

‘In the Bag’ is a partnership between Sussex Cricket Foundation and Brighton & Hove Food Partnership to deliver bagged recipe kits to families in need as identified by the city’s Emergency Food Network.

The scheme is part of Sussex Cricket Foundation’s efforts to address the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic across the county, of which food insecurity is one. Over six weeks in summer 2020, 1,247 recipe bags were provided to at least 305 families in need thanks to £4,000 raised through Together Through This Test, cricket’s national fundraising effort.  

Each of the bags contained recipes and all the ingredients needed to make the recipe apart from salt/pepper and oil. The Food Partnerships aimed for healthier recipes that included vegetables and or fruit, that were easy to make and that provided options for children’s involvement.

Following the success of the summer 2020 scheme, it was decided that ‘In the Bag’ would be return during the school summer holidays each year. Guerilla Cricket’s fundraising drive has also allowed ‘In the Bag’ to take place this winter.