1. EXPLORING SOME ALTERNATIVES TO TACKLING FOOD POVERTY
Sharon Polson
Policy and Innovation,
Voluntary and Community Division
Department for Communities

2. The context for our very specific work
Stormont House Agreement
Welfare Reform Mitigation strategy recommended £501m for measures within three strands – the provision of supplementary payments to claimants impacted by Welfare Reform, additional independent advice specifically to support claimants through the changes and measures to alleviate hardship on the introduction of Universal Credit that include improving claimants’ financial capability
Included within the Report is a recommendation aimed at tackling food poverty. The overall aim of this recommendation is to improve access to food through a network of community food shops and social stores/supermarkets.

3. SOCIAL SUPERMARKET CONCEPT
No single model of social supermarket but tend to have the following characteristics:
Sell surplus or imperfect but consumable stock from supermarkets/ suppliers.
Produce is sold at a significant discount but not given away.
Accessible only by those at risk or below a defined poverty threshold.
Either provide or link to additional services e.g. advice, training, budgeting, food skills
Key benefit is the potential it offers to provide people with a route out of poverty as opposed to short term emergency intervention

4. FOOD POVERTY – some key considerations
There is no definition of food poverty in Northern Ireland.
There are undoubtedly more variables contributing to food poverty than not having enough to eat.
Food poverty is a symptom of wider poverty and disadvantage – tackling broader food “insecurity” will require long term solutions – addressing the underlying causes of food poverty and hunger.
The link with the issues within social security delivery that may be creating/exacerbating food poverty issues.

5. Some early learning
Range of resources, expertise and stakeholders pertaining to food poverty in NI
Collaborative action to address poverty and inequality is key to successful delivery
The role of the community, connections with other community activities
Involve people experiencing food poverty
Emergency food aid is not a long term or sustainable solution to food poverty
Invest in more sustainable, longer term and more life enriching solutions to food poverty
A coherent funding strategy and long term investment
An evidence base

6. So a step back-- Scoping and concept Feasibility
Background and context
Mapping of current actions
Consultations
Benchmarking
Research analysis and scoping next steps
Development of pilot options

7. NEXT STEPS – some merging principles
May have a variety of models – don’t need to jump to a one off solution
Principles options to be tested against:
Adding value
Accessible
Sustainable
Outcome focused
Option variables:
Locations/collaborations
Activity
Duration
Operating models
Benefit testing against the following:
Improved linkage and collaborative actions
Sustainable projects emerging
Pathways/personal development