Agenda item

This report updates the Panel on local levels of food insecurity and reflects on the local support offer and work of the B&NES Fair Food Alliance since its last report to Children, Adults, Health and Wellbeing PDS Panel (May 2022).

Councillor Alison Born introduced this report to the Panel. She stated that the levels destitution locally had increased substantially in recent years and that currently 20% of children and young people in B&NES were deemed to be living in poverty, equating to around 6,500 between the ages of 0-15.

She added that there are three Trussel Trust Food Banks within B&NES and that they had seen a significant increase in use since 2017. She said that they were also fortunate to locally have additional support provided by St. John’s Foundation Crisis Programme.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager added that they were asking the Panel to consider whether one of them could take up the current vacancy on the B&NES Fair Food Alliance.

She asked them to also consider what more the Panel / Council can do to help people to be in a position to afford the daily essentials. She added that the Household Support Fund had been in place for the past three years and that this was providing £2m of funding from Government. She said that they were lobbying for this to continue into 2024/25 as it provides particular support to families with young children during the school holidays.

She explained that the Holiday Activities & Food Programme was also in place, but only currently funded until March 2025.

She asked them to also consider what they could do to support social connections within neighbourhoods through community groups or Parish & Town Councils to try to identify risks at an earlier stage.

Councillor Joanna Wright asked how schools could be encouraged to participate in the Affordable Schools Programme.

The Health Improvement Officer replied that some initial funding had been received, but that this was not likely to continue. She added that that for the schools that had already been involved it has enabled them to think differently around helping families that don’t reach the Free School Meals threshold.

Councillor Wright stated that school uniform and sports kit were also areas that should be raised as issues for families on very low incomes.

The Health Improvement Officer replied that it was a matter that was raised regularly and that they are working on strategies to promote ‘pre loved uniform’ etc. She added that School Food and School Trips were also issues raised by many people.

Councillor Wright asked for any further information on the work taking place with the Great Western Credit Union.

The Health Improvement Officer replied that it was a project known as Food Savers which will look at ways of supporting people to save and borrow safely whilst helping them with their relationship with money.

The Director of Public Health informed the Panel that they could consider how to scrutinise the health impacts of both the Economic Strategy and the Local Plan to see if that would help with any issues that have been raised during the meeting.

Kevin Burnett asked how families that don’t quite fall into the Free School Meals bracket are supported.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that a proportion of places are available for children and young people who do not meet the Free School Meal criteria to attend the Holiday Activities and Food programme, and they have been identified by their school as needing some support. She added that the Affordable Food Network and the Food Pantries are accessible to families / individuals that do not meet the FSM criteria.

Kevin Burnett asked if schools could advertise this or signpost to it.

The Health Improvement Officer replied that they can. She added that information is also contained within the Public Health Schools Newsletter which is distributed. She said that the FSM Team are also proactive and able to provide some level of support.

Councillor Liz Hardman commended the work of the Fair Food Alliance and hoped that its work would carry on. She asked if the funding from the St. John’s Foundation would continue so that one of the posts that they help to fund can remain in place.

The Public Health Development & Commissioning Manager replied that they help to provide funding for the role of the Health Improvement Officer and that this was in place until July 2024. She added that they were in regular contact with them and that further discussions were planned in January.

The Chair said that she would circulate the request for a Panel member to consider whether one of them could take up the current vacancy on the B&NES Fair Food Alliance.

The Panel RESOLVED to;

i)  Note the work of the B&NES Fair Food Alliance and its progress on delivering the ambitions of the B&NES Food Equity Action Plan 2022 – 2025.

ii)  Support the ambitions of the B&NES Fair Food Alliance by considering ways in which other Council and partnership strategy and policy can help to increase income equality and food security locally.

iii)  Consider nominating an additional Councillor to represent the Panel on the B&NES Fair Food Alliance.