Good morning. Welcome back to Survival Guide. Isabella here. 

Since I was last in your inbox, the Big Issue has been on a road trip to Newcastle! With a Womble in tow (yes, you read that right), our teams headed to the North East to hear directly from local people about the challenges they face in their communities.

I spent my first morning in Newcastle visiting the largest food bank in the UK, which is increasingly having to provide more and more services to people as cuts have decimated the amount of support available from local authorities. 

The night before, my colleague Liam Geraghty had met the food bank volunteers on the other side, collecting food and cash at the Newcastle United game against AFC Wimbledon. It takes a big team effort to get the food bank running.

While in Newcastle, I also headed to a community meal run by charity FoodCycle, and met local people from a range of backgrounds who come together every week for food and company. Read more about these as you scroll through the newsletter.

Plus, we've got an exclusive interview with North East mayor Kim McGuinness, a feature on the libraries and leisure centres which had to be saved by volunteers, and a chat with an Olympic BMX star about how a local skatepark in Gateshead changed his life. See below for more.

Newcastle was the first stop as part of our Big Community campaign, and we may well be coming to a city near you next – so keep an eye on our website and social media for announcements in the future.

If you have a story to share, we want to listen. Get in touch at isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com or share your story here.

Inside the biggest food bank in the UK as people struggle to afford the basics

Hannah first came to Newcastle Foodbank seven years ago after she lost her job and faced homelessness. She had no choice but to seek help to afford the basics, but it took courage.

“It was scary,” Hannah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, admits as she recalls her first time at the food bank. “But after the first time, it was alright. It was good.”

Newcastle Foodbank, featured in the Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake and believed to be the biggest food bank in the UK, offers more than just food. It is a vital support work, and it is increasingly necessary after 14 years of austerity decimated public services.

At St James’ Church in Benwell, in Newcastle’s west end, I met Hannah and other food bank guests at one of its weekly Pathways sessions. Advice workers sit round tables in a warm room, and people trickle in for support on benefits, housing, health and asylum.

Read the full story here.

Newcastle United fans are tackling food poverty one match at a time: 'There's more need than ever'

How does Newcastle Foodbank make it all happen? With a little help from their friends… 

Newcastle United fans are renowned for their passion and baring their chests in freezing temperatures – but their commitment to tackling food poverty is also Premier League.

The NUFC Fans Foodbank has become a familiar sight at St James’ Park since collections began in February 2017 when the Toon Army were following their team against Derby County in the Championship in the heart of the Mike Ashley era.

Volunteers have been collecting food and cash at matches ever since. Our deputy digital editor Liam Geraghty joined them at a match – read about it here.

In case you missed it

These libraries and leisure centres faced disaster as councils cut services. Then volunteers stepped in. Locals have rallied together to save vital services from austerity’s swingeing cuts. Get the story.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness on ambition, austerity and why she's the 'ultimate pragmatist'. She hopes to eliminate child poverty, bring public transport under state control, and lead the region into a powerful future. But who is McGuinness? Read our profile.

Olympic BMX star Kieran Reilly: 'I'm so proud of the North – hopefully one day people won't have to move'. The Olympian attributes his success to a humble local skatepark in Gateshead, but what happens when those facilities are taken away? Here’s the story.

Water companies' £158m fine over sewage pollution prompts fresh calls for nationalisation. Water firms have been ordered to return £157.6m to customers in England and Wales. Read about it.

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How a free community meal in Newcastle became a lifeline for people struggling to survive

A Ukrainian mother and her three children are the first to arrive at the church hall in the west end of Newcastle, where they are welcomed and offered a warm drink while they wait for their meal. They fled war two years ago and have found sanctuary in the city. 

The woman tells me the people are kind and the food is good, and it helps that this community meal is somewhere she can get food for her family. 

FoodCycle runs meals across the country and offers people a three-course meal and company. People who might otherwise never have met gather and chat familiarly.

Mark, who runs this weekly meal, started volunteering three years ago. He says: “We get mostly regulars here, and people every week who are probably lonely. We have a lot of guests who struggle. It’s nice to be able to talk to people and get to know them.”

Read more of my visit to FoodCycle and find out how to get involved.