Food Poverty in Bristol What is the extent and impact of food poverty within the Bristol region? How can churches be part of the response to help those affected? How can the Church in Bristol have a voice for justice and compassion in eradicating food poverty in our city? How can we work most effectively to make an impact on this issue?

The ‘Vision’ To create a framework for seeking to address the issue of food poverty, and poverty generally, across Bristol / South Gloucestershire To develop a more strategic approach to meeting need across the city – planning, accessing food and fundraising To provide a context for mutual support and encouragement To see provision in every deprived neighbourhood To work in partnership with the Council in identifying defined needs across the city Responding to immediate need, but also seeking to address the underlying causes of food poverty

God’s heart for the poor Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? [Isaiah 58 v 6-7] Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me’ [Matthew 25 v 34-36]

The Need: Food Poverty Headline Statistics: 3 million tonnes of food wasted each year in the UK Over 4 million people in the UK cannot afford a healthy diet 1 in 7 people over the age of 65 are at serious risk of malnourishment 7 million people are affected by low income - perhaps the most critical factor leading to food poverty Over 500,000 people now reliant on food aid – and escalating further Welfare reform is hitting hard – costs are increasing (food prices increased 12.6% above inflation in 6 years), but benefits and support are decreasing Bristol / South Gloucestershire has significant areas of deprivation, with food poverty a key issue:  16% of population (69,500) have income deprivation  25.6% of our children (22,145) living in poverty  24.9% claiming free school meals  Vulnerable elderly, refugees, asylum seekers, homeless, drug / alcohol misusers and travellers

Highlights from 2013: March: Tackling Food Poverty in London (London Assembly) May: Walking the Breadline (Church Action on Poverty / OXFAM) June: The Human Cost of Welfare Reform (Church Urban Fund) July: Bristol City Council Food Poverty Report September: Hungry for More: how churches can address the root causes of food poverty (Church Urban Fund) September: Beyond Beans: Food Banks in the UK (NPC) October: Trussell Trust call for an Inquiry (World Food Day) October: Trussell Trust announce tripling of demand in previous 6 months 9 th December: 130,000 signature petition handed in 18 th December: Debate in Parliament on 18 th December (Ministers walk out!) October: Harvest food poverty focus across Bristol Churches December: Food poverty focus by Bristol Diocese 2013: New Foodbank / Foodstore outlets in various parts of the city All reporting increase in demand

Delivery Mechanism 1: Access Surplus Food FareShare has access to bulk surplus food on a national / regional / local basis Last year FareShare’s 17 depots redistributed 3,900 tonnes of food (over 400 tonnes in Bristol alone) This contributed towards 8.6 million meals to disadvantaged people FareShare depots deliver food to 900 community organisations (over 100 in Bristol and surrounding areas) Through this network nearly 40,000 people access food every day

Delivery Mechanism 2: Community Collection Days Engaging with supermarkets on a city-wide / regional basis: Relationships in place with most of the supermarkets across the city, with regular collections Engaging with the community to make donations of small quantities of food as part of their weekly shop Other collection days with corporates

Delivery Mechanism 3: Meeting Local Needs Delivery of food on a local / community basis: 3 Trussell Trust Foodbanks (with other outlets) operating in Bristol (with others in the surrounding areas, including Yate & Chipping Sodbury, Bath, Weston S-M, Keynsham and Clevedon) Other very effective models exist in Bristol (Matthew Tree Project Foodstore with several satellites in operation or planning)

Existing Operations Bristol: Bristol NW Foodbank (+ 3 satellites) East Bristol Foodbank (+ 2 satellite) Matthew Tree Project (hub plus 6 satellites) North Bristol Foodbank (+ 2 satellites) Bedminster (Refresh) Victoria Park Baptist Church Salvation Army (food parcels from various locations) Sisters of the Church (Loaves & Fishes)

Existing Operations South Gloucestershire: Yate Foodbank (with 2 satellites) Priority Areas and emerging operations: Patchway / Filton Bradley Stoke Staple Hill / Downend Mangotsfield (Yate FB satellite) Kingswood (E Bristol Foodbank satellite) Cadbury Heath (TMTP satellite) Thornbury (Yate Foodbank satellite)

Key Issues: Addressing broader poverty issues Accessing and sharing / distributing food (possible web based ‘forum’) Engaging with the church community – human resource Advocacy / profile raising Securing sustainable finance: – Staff / project management costs – Vans / transportation – General overheads etc City wide approach to logistics: – Warehouse capacity – Vans / drivers Reaching the housebound (elderly / infirmed) – mobile Foodbanks