Families turn to food banks as last resort, not because they are free – report

Families turn to food banks as last resort, not because they are free – report
Review for Defra was passed to ministers in June but not published, creating speculation findings had been 'suppressed'



Low incomes, unemployment and benefit delays have combined to trigger increased demand for food banks among the UK's poorest families, according to a report commissioned by the government (pdf).

The report directly contradicts the claim from a government minister that the rise in the use of food banks is linked to the fact that there are now more of them. It says people turn to charity food as a last resort following a crisis such as the loss of a job, or problems accessing social security benefits.

The report concludes that, while there is some evidence that welfare changes have contributed to increased demand, it is difficult to make a clear and robust link.

The review emerges as the government comes under pressure from church leaders and charities to address increasing prevalence of food poverty caused by welfare cuts. The End Hunger Fast campaign has called for a national day of fasting on 4 April to highlight the issue.

The review, written by a team of food policy experts from the University of Warwick, was passed to ministers in June but has remained under wraps until now, creating speculation that the government "suppressed" its findings.

Examining the effect of welfare changes on food bank use was not a specific part of its remit, says the report, which is understood to have undergone a number of revisions since early summer at the behest of the Department for Food and Agriculture and the Department for Work and Pensions.

The researchers found that a combination of rising food prices, shrinking incomes, low pay and increasing personal debt meant an increasing number of families could not afford to buy sufficient food.

Benefits payment problems – either administrative errors that can leave claimants without cash for weeks, or the temporary withdrawal of benefits as a result of sanctions –are a factor in the increase in demand for food aid, the report says.

Ministers have repeatedly said there is no robust link between welfare changes and food bank use, while the welfare minister Lord Freud claimed the rise in food bank use was because there were more food banks and because the food was free.

But the Warwick researchers explicitly reject Freud's claim in a statement accompanying the report: "We found no evidence to support the idea that increased food aid provision is driving demand. All available evidence both in the UK and international points in the opposite direction. Put simply, there is more need and informal food aid providers are trying to help."

The report says that, while food banks such as the Trussell Trust collect data on the numbers of people using its services, it is impossible give an accurate estimate of the numbers of people fed by food aid providers in the UK.

The review warns ministers that, while food banks and thousands of other voluntary food aid providers do an important job of coping with short-term hunger problems, government cannot rely on charity to tackle rising food insecurity.

"Increasing numbers of households are having to deal with changes in circumstances which are potentially having negative impact on their food security in the immediate – and possibly longer – term," says the report.

It adds: "Some see it as appropriate for local groups to meet short-term food needs through temporary, non-governmental provision, but the evidence from international food security research suggests this is likely to be of limited effectiveness.

"A broader approach to sustaining food access, which takes account of longer-term and underlying dimensions to household food insecurity is needed."

A government spokesperson said: "Charities such as food organisations have always provided a valued service to those in need in their communities, in addition to the safety net provided by governments, and we should welcome the help they provide."

"That is why this government has given Jobcentre Plus advisers the ability to say to people who need help that they can go to a food bank.

"The literature review published today was commissioned as part of Defra's general work on food in the UK to see what information was available on the issue."

Professor Elizabeth Dowler, who headed the Warwick research team, said: "We are delighted our report has been published. We urge the government to learn from it and from those living in harsh circumstances, and to find creative, fair ways to enable all in this rich country to have enough money to be able to eat healthily. This work is urgent."

Niall Cooper, of the charity Church Action on Poverty, said: "The publication of the Defra report, coinciding with the launch of the End Hunger Fast by over 40 church leaders today is a timely wake up call to government and society at large.

"The report confirms the growing demand for food banks is driven by people facing crises, and directly refutes the governments claims that it is caused by the growing number of food banks.

"The truth is that, since the 'snapshot' last March, the situation has dramatically worsened, with many food banks reporting a doubling or trembling in demand since April.

The Defra review follows the publication of a Scottish government report last month which explicitly connected the rise in food bank use with the impact of welfare reforms such as the bedroom tax. The nine week Defra review, called a Rapid Research Assessment, comprised of a study of peer-assessed research in the UK and overseas, plus a series of interviews with food aid volunteers, professionals and studies of food aid projects.

Separately, an all-party group of MPs launched an inquiry on Thursday into the causes of UK food poverty and food bank use. The inquiry will be headed by the Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton, and inquiry members include Labour MP Frank Field and Tory backbencher Laura Sandys.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/20/food-bank-review-undermines-ministers-claim

Speculation it was suppressed? Of course it was suppressed.

It will be interesting to see what conclusion the inquiry by the all-party group comes to. I'm sure the government will try and suppress that as well if they don't like the results.

Sassy wrote:It will be interesting to see what conclusion the inquiry by the all-party group comes to.  I'm sure the government will try and suppress that as well if they don't like the results.

It's very worrying, what is happening to this country.

'History has a bad habit of repeating itself'

Catman wrote:

Sassy wrote:It will be interesting to see what conclusion the inquiry by the all-party group comes to.  I'm sure the government will try and suppress that as well if they don't like the results.

It's very worrying, what is happening to this country.

'History has a bad habit of repeating itself'

Yes there is talk of Labour winning again at which point the economy will be finished. Strange we have all these new jobs that you concentrate on the negatives. All the news is good the fact people are worse off is Labours massive con over immigration. Reduce wages and massive increase in state spending.

56kevins wrote:

Catman wrote:

It's very worrying, what is happening to this country.

'History has a bad habit of repeating itself'

Yes there is talk of Labour winning again at which point the economy will be finished. Strange we have all these new jobs that you concentrate on the negatives. All the news is good the fact people are worse off is Labours massive con over immigration. Reduce wages and massive increase in state spending.

If Labour don't win an outright victory at the next election, then the annhilation of the poor will continue, a coalition with the Liberals will just be a re run of this present government.

I can see how some people might have to use them if they lose their job and there's a delay in getting benefits. It's always a good idea to save a bit for a rainy day.

Trouble is, the number of delays in benefits means rainy days come thick and fast.

Catman wrote:

56kevins wrote:

Yes there is talk of Labour winning again at which point the economy will be finished. Strange we have all these new jobs that you concentrate on the negatives. All the news is good the fact people are worse off is Labours massive con over immigration. Reduce wages and massive increase in state spending.

If Labour don't win an outright victory at the next election, then the annhilation of the poor will continue, a coalition with the Liberals will just be a re run of this present government.

Labour left behind a huge debt and a huge deficit. That is what has made people poorer. They plan to spend again they haven't learned a thing!

Up to the time the bankers put us in the shit we were doing very well, and a lot better than we have been since. And that's fact.

Well I know of a case where the user of the food banks spends their benefit money on illegal drugs and gets their food from the food bank.

Sphinx, please state what has to happen before someone can use a foodbank.

Sassy wrote:Up to the time the bankers put us in the shit we were doing very well, and a lot better than we have been since.   And that's fact.

Except we were not Labour was spending every penny and then some. As soon as we had a down turn it had no reserves and a huge increase in the public sector workforce. It overspent and only inept people would suggest otherwise. I might add the banks were paying Billions in taxes to finance his spending spree and the Chancellor stopped looking closely enough.
Only a fool spends everything and mortgages their future and Socialist do it every time. They know no other way.

That's rubbish. Look at the figures. It wasn't a downturn, it was a financial meltdown brought about by WORLD banking. Just think what would happen if the same thing occurred tomorrow, we'd sink in five minutes.

Sassy wrote:Sphinx, please state what has to happen before someone can use a foodbank.

I have no idea - I just know there is a person who gets neighbours to get their food from a food bank while they take illegal drugs.

At least they have been - it seems the people who have been accessing the food bank for them are getting wise and refusing to do so any more.

sphinx wrote:

Sassy wrote:Sphinx, please state what has to happen before someone can use a foodbank.

I have no idea - I just know there is a person who gets neighbours to get their food from a food bank while they take illegal drugs.

At least they have been - it seems the people who have been accessing the food bank for them are getting wise and refusing to do so any more.

That's what I thought. Because nobody can get food from a foodbank for you, unless there is a particular reason, and then a designated person (social worker etc) can do it for you in exceptional circumstances. You also have to have a coupon from social services or a doctor and it is investigated to make sure you really need it, and you can only use it three times in a year. So I'm sorry, but what you state simply can't happen.

56kevins wrote:

Sassy wrote:Up to the time the bankers put us in the shit we were doing very well, and a lot better than we have been since.   And that's fact.

Except we were not Labour was spending every penny and then some. As soon as we had a down turn it had no reserves and a huge increase in the public sector workforce. It overspent and only inept people would suggest otherwise. I might add the banks were paying Billions in taxes to finance his spending spree and the Chancellor stopped looking closely enough.
Only a fool spends everything and mortgages their future and Socialist do it every time. They know no other way.

Once the empire was lost   ...The Tory governments sold off the family silver, to make ends meet!

....This situation has been going on for about forty years!

I really dont understand this notion that people are using foodbanks whilst wasting money on drugs and booze etc. Do people think you can go once a week or something like its a supermarket?

Sassy wrote:

sphinx wrote:

I have no idea - I just know there is a person who gets neighbours to get their food from a food bank while they take illegal drugs.

At least they have been - it seems the people who have been accessing the food bank for them are getting wise and refusing to do so any more.

That's what I thought.   Because nobody can get food from a foodbank for you, unless there is a particular reason, and then a designated person (social worker etc) can do it for you in exceptional circumstances.   You also have to have a coupon from social services or a doctor and it is investigated to make sure you really need it, and you can only use it three times in a year.    So I'm sorry, but what you state simply can't happen.

Yeah well that is not what I am hearing or seeing - maybe because it is a small local organized food bank, I dont know.

NemsAgain wrote:I really dont understand this notion that people are using foodbanks whilst wasting money on drugs and booze etc. Do people think you can go once a week or something like its a supermarket?

Sadly that's what some of the RW are like Nems, lie and or exaggerate things, deny poverty , shift the blame onto others for being in poverty , even the ones who don't smoke, drink, gamble or take drugs...they look after their kids and they still can't make ends meet,yes some are on drink and drugs , but only a minority.

It's ridiculous they are labelled as scroungers, and they just don't need these accusations on top of that.