By Ele Forster
Now that’s a question. What is food banks closed their doors? But what if it happened because there’s a better, more dignified way to ensure every person can access food, even in difficult circumstances? That’s exactly what happened recently at a food bank in Brighton, where a personalised, relationship-led approach saw the need for emergency food parcels fall from 3500 per year to just 4-5 each week – “not because hardship disappeared, but because people were no longer left to face it alone”. A bustling community support cafe now provides a welcoming space for connection, as well as access to a broad range of support. This support includes emergency food parcels, but only as an option for temporary emergency. Food bank use has exploded since 2010, with a 50% rise in the last 5 years alone. Food banks and their incredible volunteers and staff have been left to provide the last line of defence for all manner of crisis and complexity.
Highland Good Food Partnership has joined the hundreds of campaigners, community organisations, food partnerships and trade unions to endorse the Food Bank Free Britain campaign, driven by the Alliance for Dignified Food Support (ADFS). We’re delighted to be a part of highlighting this ongoing issue and gather with others to explore better ways of supporting people experiencing food insecurity.
Central to the campaign is the belief that food banks are not an inevitable response to poverty. As Stef Lake of ADFS says: “We don’t need more or better food banks. We need real transformational change.” Alongside the case studies (like the one at the start of this piece) showing other pathways, the campaign is calling for action from Local and National governments to tackle food insecurity, support food bank staff and volunteers and work collectively towards a Food Bank Free Britain that provides a dignified and sustainable alternative to today’s system. Friday 4th September (National Food Banks Day) sees the start of a week of collective action across the country to raise awareness and support for this vision. You can find out more about the campaign and and get involved here.