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

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.

Food poverty

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)

‘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)

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.

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.

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.

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

Charities, NGOs and policy makers

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

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

Understanding the ‘problem’ and divising effective solutions.

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

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’

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

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.

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?