Tag: food poverty

One in five Scots unable to buy essential food items in last fortnight

  • 18 % of Scots were unable to buy essential food items in the past two weeks 
  • One in eight people in Scotland reported buying less food due to shortages 
  • Percentage of Scottish households buying less food has doubled in the last fortnight 

One in five Scots were unable to purchase essential food items in the past two weeks, new research has revealed.  

18 percent of people in Scotland could not buy essential food items – the third-highest percentage of people in the UK who were unable to access essential food. The study also found that almost a quarter of Scots were unable to purchase non-essential food items. 

The research, conducted by delivery management experts Urbantz, used new ONS data on goods shortages to analyze the percentage of people in Scotland who were unable to access essential food between the 22nd of September and the 3rd of October. 

The study found that 12 per cent of people in Scotland bought less food than usual between 22nd of September and 3rd of October as a result of shortages – double the percentage of Scots who purchased less food in the previous fortnight.  

One in four Scottish residents reported that when they went food shopping, items that they needed were not available and they could not find a replacement, while half said that there was less variety of food in the shops than usual.  

On a UK-wide level, one in six people struggled to buy essential food items in the last fortnight, and 15 percent of people couldn’t buy fuel. The North East, Yorkshire and the Humber and the East of England were the areas worst hit by food shortages, with 21 percent of people in those regions unable to buy essential food. 

When it came to fuel shortages, the South East and the East of England were the regions that struggled most. In the South East, 22 percent of people were unable to access fuel – 57 percent higher than the national average. 

A spokesperson for Urbantz, which conducted the data, said: “With the country facing significant delivery of food and other essentials, it’s vital to look at the experiences of families in the UK, and what they have dealt with in the past two weeks when trying to shop for food, medicine, and fuel. 

“The impact of the driver shortage is felt across the entire supply chain, all the way through to the last mile – where consumers are faced with fewer choices at checkout and longer delays on their deliveries due to retailers’ struggles to keep their warehouses stocked”. 

Food shortages by region 

Region % who couldn’t buy essential food in last fortnight 
Scotland 18% 
North West  14% 
North East  21% 
Yorkshire and the Humber 21% 
East Midlands  21% 
West Midlands  12% 
East of England  19% 
London  19% 
South East 17% 
Wales  14% 
South West  18% 

Fuel shortages by region 

Region % who couldn’t buy fuel in last fortnight 
Scotland 6% 
North West  14% 
North East  9% 
Yorkshire and the Humber 14% 
East Midlands  14% 
West Midlands  13% 
East of England  23% 
London  16% 
South East 22% 
South West  19% 
Wales  14% 

All data gathered from the ONS. 

Pennywell Pantry opening times

Our opening times at Pennywell Pantry are changing slightly from this week – we will now close slightly earlier at 1pm on a Saturday.

Our opening times will stay the same from Wednesday to Friday, when we’ll be open as usual from 10am – 2pm.

Aldi donates over 22,000 meals to Edinburgh and Lothian charities over the school summer holidays

ALDI – GLASCOTE TAMWORTH FOOD DONATION – TAMWORTH HEART CHARITY Pictures by Adam Fradgley Pictured: Lisa Richards (Aldi) and Simon Peaple (Tamworth Heart) with the trolley of donated items at the Tamworth store

Local charities across Edinburgh and the Lothians helped Aldi donate 22,752 meals to people in need over the summer school holidays.

The supermarket paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and foodbanks to donate surplus food, with the majority of meals going to causes supporting families and children.

The donation is part of Aldi’s commitment to donate 10 million meals across the country in 2021, in partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly.

Mary Dunn, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “We were proud to support so many incredible causes across Edinburgh and the Lothians this summer, helping them to donate meals to those in need.

“The school holidays can be a hard time for families, particularly when many are experiencing heightened financial hardship due to the pandemic, and this is why we committed to donating more meals than ever before.”

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “The summer school holidays are always one of the busiest times for the nation’s charities and food banks, but this year things were even busier. Aldi’s donations have never been more of a vital support to these organisations.”

Aldi stores across the country work with Neighbourly to partner with local charities, who can collect surplus food and perishable products, such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, up to seven days a week.

MSP urges families to apply for increased Best Start payment

Eligible families in Edinburgh are being encouraged to apply for the Best Start Foods payment after the SNP Scottish Government delivered on its promise to increase the support within its first 100 days in government.

The payment is increasing to £18 from £17 during pregnancy and for any children between one and three years old. It’s also increasing to £36 from £34 for children under one. Families already receiving the payment will automatically receive an increase.

Since its introduction by the SNP in December 2018, £60.8 million has been paid to 179,575 families across Scotland.

The MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald, is encouraging everyone eligible to apply via www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods/how-to-apply.

SNP MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands, Gordon MacDonald said: “I am delighted that the SNP government is delivering on another one of its commitments to increase the Best Start Foods payment, which is making a difference to the lives of families across my constituency of Edinburgh Pentlands, the entire city and right across Scotland.

“Whilst the Tories at Westminster prepare to cut support to families at a time when they need it most, the SNP is increasing support to families and ensuring that every child has the best start in life.

“If you have not applied yet I would encourage you to do so immediately or if you have any family or friends who may be eligible to encourage them too.”

Food That Goes Further: Cyrenians launch summer appeal

Cyrenians has launched their summer appeal ‘Food That Goes Further’, appealing for regular support to their community food projects to ‘help make sure that no one goes hungry’. 

Cyrenians is a Scottish homelessness charity, tackling the causes and consequences of homelessness. A large part of their work includes their community food projects – including community pantries, offering dignified access to low-cost, high-quality food, and cooking skills classes. 

Joe Gair, Cook School volunteer, said: “No one should have to go hungry. Too often, people struggling to make ends meet are told what to eat, when, and who with – often, that means people just go without. This isn’t good enough. 

“Food insecurity comes as a result of living in poverty, and having to make impossible choices, like paying for food or paying your rent. It isolates you from the wider community and has a real impact on your mental and physical wellbeing.  

“At our Good Food projects, anyone can come, which makes getting food as well as support so much easier. From money issues to housing, once you’ve built up a relationship with someone, it’s much easier to talk about it and find out how to get help.”  

Cyrenians’ food projects include a diverse range of social enterprises – from Cyrenians Farm in Kirknewton, and Arnotdale House and Café in Falkirk, to their Community Cook School and Fareshare depot in Leith. Providing value to local communities, and creating employment and training opportunities, the profits raised from these projects are then reinvested back into Cyrenians’ work tackling homelessness. 

Sue O’Neill-Berest, Food Education Manager, said: “Communities cannot be held responsible for food insecurity in Scotland, but community food projects are well-placed to respond to crises, and to promote dignity at a local level.

That’s why our food projects make sure that people can access low-cost, high quality food, and with dignity: open to all, and where people are able to choose what they eat, and when.”

Ewan Aitken CEO, said: “At Cyrenians, we know that the social connections that are creating around making and sharing meals can be just as important as the meals themselves. Building strong community relationships and making sure people can get support they need way before they reach crisis point is a key part of our work tackling homelessness. 

“In addition to that, we’re creating employment and job opportunities for communities, and helping to increase the availability of good food to local communities – working with local businesses and producers to create sustainable food networks that are good for people and good for the planet. 

“Our community food projects are needed more than ever. We need to build on these projects – but we can’t do that alone. 

“If you can, please support our #FoodThatGoesFurther appeal and help make sure that no one goes hungry” 

www.cyrenians.scot/foodthatgoesfurther 

Cyrenians Fareshare depot delivers equivalent of over 4.2 million meals to charities and community groups

In the past year, Cyrenians’ FareShare depot based in Leith has distributed 1,800 tonnes of food to charities and community groups across Central and South East Scotland – the equivalent of creating over 4.2 million meals, and a three-fold increase on previous year. 

Cyrenians tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness. Building community through food and tackling food poverty is a large part of their work – through their FareShare depot in Leith, the charity redistributes surplus food from the supply chain to charities and community groups across Central and South East Scotland. 

Cyrenians FareShare Depot Operations Supervisor Craig Buchan said, “Ever since the start of covid-19 we have seen an increased demand for access to food in a quick, dignified manner. At the height of the pandemic, we were supporting over 200 Community Food Members – all of whom are organisations in their own right, delivering valuable services in their community. 

“Our model is two-fold; we prevent unnecessary food waste by working with large supermarkets and food networks to prevent surplus food being sent to waste, whilst helping organisations like Empty Kitchens Full Hearts and Eildon Housing Association and many others to redirect funds into essential frontline work by providing nutritious food at low costs.” 

Director of Commercial and Trading Services Mike Hartley added: “With the communities we serve still facing increasing pressure, and charities and community groups providing a real lifeline in these difficult times, it’s clear that this service has never been more needed. 

“Alongside supporting other groups across Central and South East Scotland, the depot team have helped to deliver valuable services right here in Edinburgh too. 

“With the help of our community partners and amazing volunteers, we have been able to continue running a range of community pantries across Edinburgh – offering dignified access to high quality affordable food. This enabled us to provide over 2,500 bags of food for pantry members.

“None of this could be possible without a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, alongside the financial support of individuals and businesses far and wide.

“On behalf of everyone at Cyrenians, I offer our sincere gratitude.” 

To find out more, visit www.cyrenians.scot  

Aldi donates 12,088 meals to Lothian charities over the Easter School Holidays

Local charities in the Lothians helped Aldi donate 12,088 meals to people in need over the Easter school holidays. 

The supermarket paired up its stores with local charities, community groups and foodbanks to donate surplus food, prioritising donations to those focused on feeding children. 

Around 36 tonnes of food were donated throughout Scotland, with more than 61,000 meals, including over 47,500 meals for children, donated to causes supporting families and children in need. 

The donation is part of Aldi’s commitment to donate 10 million meals across the country in 2021, in partnership with community giving platform Neighbourly.  

So far this year, Aldi stores across the UK have already donated more than two million meals to good causes.  

Mary Dunn, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “We’re proud to support good causes in the Lothians, helping them to provide meals to those in need over the Easter period.  

“At a time when more people are experiencing financial hardship and food insecurity due to Covid-19, we are committed to doing what we can to donate more meals in 2021 than ever before.” 

Steve Butterworth, from Neighbourly, added: “The school holidays are often a busy time for the nation’s charities and food banks. I’m sure Aldi’s donation will have been a massive help for so many of these vital organisations.” 

Inexorable rise in food bank use

1.9 million meals distributed – and latest statistics DO NOT include pandemic period

Between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2020, the Trussell Trust’s food bank network distributed 1.9 million three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis, a 18% increase on the previous year. More than seven hundred thousand of these went to children.

Across Scotland, more than 237,000 were distributed – 80,000 of which were for children.

Food bank use has increased by 74% over the last five years, the charity reports. The top three reasons for referral to a food bank in the Trussell Trust network in 2019-20 were low income, benefit delays and benefit changes.

Releasing the charity’s latest annual statistics, Trussell Trust’s CEO Emma Revie said: “This year has been an extraordinarily difficult one, with many more people across the country facing destitution as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Food banks carry on, working as tirelessly as ever, to support people in crisis through the unprecedented challenge the pandemic continues to pose.

“The statistics in our 2019/2020 report show the situation in food banks up until the end of March, before the true economic impact of the pandemic had hit. Despite this, we see a rise in the number of people being forced to use a food bank yet again.

“This constant rise in food bank use, year after year, cannot continue. More and more people are struggling to eat because they simply cannot afford food – and when we look to the year ahead, it’s likely even more people will be forced into destitution. This is not right.”

“We know this situation can be turned around – that’s why we’re campaigning to create a future where no one needs a food bank. Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty and while additional government measures have helped some people stay afloat this year, clearly more needs to be done.

“That’s why we united with partners from across the charity sector in urging the UK government to make sure everyone can afford the essentials through the economic downturn.

“And we want to see governments at all levels doing everything in their power to protect people from financial hardship.

“We have outlined what needs to be done – it’s in our power to protect one another, we’ve seen it during this health crisis, and we need it to continue during this economic one.”

Scran Van’s back on the road today

The Scran Van Easter Roadshow continues this week with stops at:

LIFT / MUIRHOUSE MILLENNIUM CENTRE, Muirhouse Medway: Monday 12 – 1.30pm

SHE SCOTLAND, Muirhouse Park: Tuesday 4 – 6pm

GOODTREES NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE, Moredunvale Place Wednesday 12 – 3pm.