Over 10 million people in the UK are at risk of not having access to enough food but less than a fifth (two million) of those people are using the food clubs, food banks and food vouchers available to them, with the largest barrier being social stigma, latest research from Sainsbury’s has revealed.
Of the people currently using food support services, a third (34%) say they are using them often or always. These include food banks, which are defined as non-profit, charitable organisations that distribute food to those who have difficulty buying enough, and food clubs, which allow members to buy items at a reduced price to stretch their budgets further as well as wrap-around services providing financial advice and emotional support.
The reality is that many of those in need of food do not use food support services, with almost three-quarters (70%) saying they avoid them due to feeling judged, while over two thirds (67%) say they feel ashamed, and over a third (35%) state feelings of embarrassment.
Furthermore, almost two fifths (39%) feel they don’t qualify to use food support services, with half (50%) saying they don’t want to take the help away from someone who might need it more than them, despite three in five of those surveyed (58%) having had to skip a meal at some point in the last twelve months because they could not afford to eat.
For those that do use food support services, one in three (32%) say these offer a sense of community and a third (30%) say they no longer have to worry about not being able to afford food because of them.
Fundraising partnerships, like Sainsbury’s Nourish the Nation programme with Comic Relief, help to support organisations such as Feeding Britain to combat food poverty by expanding their reach and providing more prevention initiatives, like food clubs, in communities. This work targets the ongoing impact of the cost-of-living crisis in the UK and supports families who are struggling to make ends meet.
To shed a light on the vital support that food clubs provide, Sainsbury’s has partnered with poet Yrsa Daley-Ward, to give a voice to food club members and bring to life the real stories of those facing food insecurity in the UK today.
Yrsa interviewed members from Bonny Downs, a food club in East Ham, London, funded by Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief and facilitated by Feeding Britain, to create the ‘Unspoken words’ poems. These conversations have been brought to life in an emotive piece of video content, raising awareness of the stories and experiences of those struggling. The video can be watched here.
Yrsa Daley-Ward said: “It was a privilege to hear the real, personal experiences of those at the Bonny Downs Food Club – their openness allowed me to create authentic poems about the experiences of those facing food poverty. Witnessing the sense of community a food club provides its users, it’s evident that these services and hubs offer a place of comfort and friendship, outside of just groceries. I hope the poems do justice to the real conversations that inspired them and help to highlight the vital support food clubs provide.”
Ruth Cranston, director of corporate responsibility and Sustainability at Sainsbury’s, said: “Millions of people are struggling to access enough nutritious food for themselves and their families, and their stories are often going unheard. That’s why we’ve worked with Yrsa Daley-Ward, to bring to life their lived experiences in a really powerful way, helping to raise awareness of the critical food poverty issue in the UK, and some of the great support services, like food clubs, happening in communities around us.
“By working with Comic Relief and charities such as Feeding Britain, we can make a real difference in the fight against food poverty, and we encourage our customers to join us by donating what they can to help drive long lasting change. Our Nourish the Nation programme aims to ensure that everyone up and down the country has access to good food that is balanced, nutritious, and sustainable.”
Samir Patel, CEO of Comic Relief, said: “Millions of people in the UK are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and face impossible choices. Many are in need of help and support. The Nourish the Nation programme, supported by our long-term partner Sainsbury’s has never been more needed. We are proud to be working with a range of organisations and incredible individuals who are helping to make a difference in the lives of so many families and communities across the country.”
Sainsbury’s Nourish the Nation programme, in partnership with Comic Relief, aims to tackle food poverty by helping people access the balanced, nutritional, and sustainable food they need, right now and in the future. This includes funding organisations that focus on helping those on the edge of food poverty to maintain their independence and dignity, preventing them from reaching crisis point.
Over the course of its twenty-five-year partnership with Comic Relief, Sainsbury’s has raised more than £170m, including £9.2m in the last year alone. Customers can support the Nourish the Nation programme in Sainsbury’s stores and online, via the Nectar app, or on the Comic Relief website.
