Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byDella Chase Modified over 8 years ago
1
LET THEM USE FOOD BANKS? CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES TO UK CHARITABLE RESPONSE Hannah Lambie-Mumford, Department of Geography, University of Sheffield And Elizabeth Dowler, Department of Sociology, University of Warwick
2
Introduction Rising need for emergency food provision described as a ‘food poverty crisis’ Paper focuses on responses – beyond food banks ▫From policy and charitable sectors ▫and issues faced at different levels. Specifically explores social policy responses and ways forward.
3
Food poverty
4
Eating in Austerity Impacts: ▫Rising cost of living (including food, fuel and housing) ▫Stagnating incomes; extensive welfare reform Effects: Skipping meals / going without (Shelter 2013 and Save the Children 2012) Food 20% less affordable for the poorest 10% than in 2007 (Defra pocket book) Buying less fresh food (Defra family food survey 2012)
5
‘Food poverty crisis’? Represented by rising numbers turning to ‘food aid’ ▫Particularly in the form of food banks. Using these numbers is problematic ▫Those in equal need & not going; those in less severe food poverty. But other figures indicate food insecurity may be an increasingly important issue (PSE findings 4m adults)
6
How do people cope Households have always used multiple practices and systems to ‘manage’ 1.Budgeting strategies: ▫shopping, cooking and eating differently. ▫buy cheaper, poorer quality food; less variety; borrow to buy food; go without food. 2.Turning to food charity: ▫Amongst a range of strategies including turning to friends and family and other informal support.
7
The food banks response Rise of food banks as a response to rising need. Since 2000 across Europe ▫Germany; France; Portugal; Finland. Since 2000 in the UK ▫Trussell Trust Foodbank Network now 400+ projects which last year fed over 900,000 people. ▫Fare Share redistribution to 1,200 projects including emergency food providers.
8
Defra Review of Food Aid some evidence on drivers for seeking food aid ▫triggers mostly crises in income: job loss and/or problems with benefits; ▫These acute issues usually underpinned by on- going low income, rising costs, indebtedness households struggle to manage; food aid is usually a ‘last resort’ & one of many strategies. other help/support from providers very important.
9
Defra Review of Food Aid 2 Many who need it will not be going. provision is vulnerable to not meeting demand; informal food aid may relieve emergency needs but not underlying causes of household food insecurity. Policy must focus on long-term needs & causes
10
Charities, NGOs and policy makers
11
Charitable sector response Community level: ▫Much will and energy going into food-based responses (food banks; soup runs; etc.) National charity / NGO level: ▫Campaign work (re. food charity) Oxfam, Church Action on Poverty ▫Issue of hunger embedded within poverty reports Shelter, Save the Children
12
Political and Policy Reactions to food charity National level politicians: ▫Representation of ‘Big Society’ & impact of welfare reform ▫Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger and Food Poverty in Britain Devolved policy: ▫Scottish emergency food fund Local authorities: ▫Grant funding; part of food policy councils; food (poverty) strategies
13
Understanding the ‘problem’ and divising effective solutions.
14
Challenges for social policy response Definition and Measurement ▫What is ‘food poverty’ and how can it be measured? Relationship between food poverty and poverty: ▫distinct or part of? Effective articulation of the relationship with social security. ▫Food poverty and income levels ▫Impact of welfare reform on food poverty
15
Challenges for social policy response Lack of social policy ownership / policy co- ordination ▫Defra holds responsibility for food security; ▫Food Standards Agency and Department of Health involvement in issues of food poverty and nutrition. ▫Not framed as a social policy ‘problem’
16
Social Policy interventions Opportunities for interventions: On determinants of food poverty: ▫Economic access (income) through labour market and welfare entitlement policies On food aid triggers: ▫Problems with benefits (maladministration); debt; housing
17
Social Policy interventions 2 Social policy levers to intervene: National level: ▫Administration of social security and entitlements. Local level: ▫Local welfare assistance schemes; local food poverty strategies; housing and homelessness strategies.
18
Conclusions National charities and local providers challenge increasing reliance on emergency food as a response to food poverty. Vacuum in response at national level – ▫political reaction rather than policy response so far. Lack of social policy ownership, despite inherent links to poverty experience – ▫Question of framing: food or poverty?
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.