CITY are launching a free food service after every home game – starting with Saturday’s visit of Crawley.

The scheme to help vulnerable members of the local community has been set up alongside club partner Penny Appeal and the Bradford City Community Foundation.

A food truck will be parked outside the City Hub on Valley Parade between 6pm and 7pm on every home matchday.

Unused food from the Foundation’s City Hub, open before every home game, will be donated to the truck to ensure it is not wasted as part of the club and Foundation's continued sustainability and community outreach efforts.

The Hub will then remain open after 7pm as a meeting and collection space for those using the truck, with a view for food parcels to also be made available for collection.

The truck will also appear every Thursday evening from January 11 in the same location between 6.00pm and 6.45pm.

The Hub will again remain open to act as a warm, safe space for those benefiting from the free food on offer to gather, connect and shelter from the elements.

Community Foundation chief executive officer and former City striker Ian Ormondroyd said: “Here at the Foundation, we are delighted to be working alongside the club and Penny Appeal.

“The food truck will do crucial work in providing for the underprivileged, vulnerable and at-risk members of our community.

“Hopefully, by combining our efforts with the club, Penny Appeal and our City Hub, we can make a real and lasting difference, which not only provides for Bradford’s community members, but allows us to reduce food waste, too.”

Ridwana Wallace-Laher, chief executive officer of Penny Appeal and a trustee for the Community Foundation, said: “We are very excited to be working closely with the club and the Community Foundation in doing our bit for the community in Bradford.

“This is an opportunity to provide nourishment for vulnerable people, but also to tackle the issue of food waste management, which is something I know the club and the Foundation care deeply about.

“We are delighted the City Hub will be opening its doors to coincide with the food truck’s offerings on Thursday evenings. Service users will be able to get a hot meal from the food truck and then have a warm and safe place to eat it.”

Donations for the truck, whether cash, food, cosmetics or other products, can be made at the City Hub or by contacting Bradford City Community foundation at office@bcfccommunity.co.uk.