'In the Bag' initiative set to continue after Sussex Cricket help distribute 1,200 food kits to families

Sussex Cricket and the Sussex Cricket Foundation hope to continue the ‘In the Bag’ initiative every year after distributing over 1,200 recipe and ingredient bags to local families during the 2020 summer holidays.

Over six weeks of the summer holidays, Sussex Cricket Foundation worked with the Brighton and Hove Food Partnership to address the urgent issue of ‘holiday hunger’, which is experienced by many families who rely on free school meals to feed their children.

In total, 1,247 bags were distributed to at least 305 families as part of the ‘In The Bag’ initiative, with £4,000 in funding raised by Sussex Cricket through the Together Through This Test auction.

The ‘In The Bag’ kits were put together at Hove Park School (the food hub) by a team of 12 Food Partnership volunteers, before being distributed by Chomp, Children’s Centre Food Banks, WASP, The Phoenix Food Hub and Woodingdean Food Bank.

Each kit contained recipes and ready-weighed out ingredients for ease, with the Food Partnership choosing recipes that were simple to make, known to work and provide options for children’s involvement.

Information and activities for the families were also included in every kit, with ‘Eat Them to Defeat Them’ activity packs (veg-themed masks, colouring, word searches etc.), Waste Less Save More information booklets and fridge thermometers, and toothbrushes and toothbrushing advice, provided by the Dental Health Team at the local Council, all proving popular.

“Working with Sussex Cricket Foundation on this project was a really positive experience for us.” Said Vic Borill, director at Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.

“Their enthusiasm for this project was heartening and we appreciated they trusted us to deliver this project. Over 300 families experiencing food poverty in the city had a nutritious meal a week for six weeks thanks to this project."

Jon Filby, chair of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, added: “We are very grateful to the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership for enabling Sussex Cricket to support our local community through this crucial project.

“Food security is very much in the news at the moment, and Sussex Cricket will continue to work with the great people at the Food Partnership to help to ensure that children don’t go hungry in our city.”

Sussex Cricket and the Sussex Cricket Foundation hopes that ‘In The Bag’ can be an annual initiative, providing support to families local to The 1st Central County Ground in summer 2021 and beyond, and looks forward to working with the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership in the future.

Sussex Cricket look forward to announcing more partnerships and beneficiaries of the Together Through This Test fund during the winter.

The full impact report, written by Sussex Cricket Foundation trustee Katy Cooper and Vic Borrell, director of the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership, can be found here.