A Durham County Councillor travels around the villages of Wheatley Hill and Thornley distributing much needed food parcels to striking miners and their families.

Before the start of the 1984-85 Miners Strike, miners were not only some the best paid manual workers in Europe but were working in an industry that was one of the safest and most efficient in the world. However, months into the strike and with little sign that the dispute coming to an end, miners and their families were beginning to face considerable hardship made worse by a change to welfare benefits preventing dependents of striking miners access to 'Hardship Funds' due to a new clause in the Social Security Act 1980.
Support for the miners and the families came from many sources including from abroad. Miners in the Soviet Union trade union federation donated £1.5 million to the NUM as well as a shipment of chocolate enjoyed by children across the country. Support also came from some famous faces including Bruce Springsteen who donated £20,000 to the Northumberland and Durham Miners Support Group. Local football legend and former miner Jack Charlton lent his car to miners so that they could travel around the country.
However, the majority of support families received during the strike came from within their own communities from the tireless work of Miners' wives, mothers, daughters, and partners. For many women the strike offered their first opportunity to take a public role in their community through groups such as 'Women Against Pit Closures'. Their actions during the strike not only helped to raise the funds and awareness in the general public to the dispute, but also provided necessary soup kitchens to feed hungry families as well distribute food parcels to the needy similar to those been handed out by this unknown Durham County Councillor around the communities of Wheatley Hill and Thornley.

Interview with a man delivering food parcels to striking miners, following a delivery in the Wheatley Hill and Thornley areas.