A recent study conducted by the University of East Anglia highlights a potential solution for alleviating poverty by incorporating comprehensive support services within food banks. The research team collaborated with Norwich Foodbank centers, which operate under the Trussell Trust, to implement a pilot project known as the ‘Making a Difference’ initiative. This innovative program involved placing representatives from Citizens Advice and Shelter within the food bank facilities.
“As the cost-of-living crisis continues, more and more people are turning to food banks because they simply can’t afford to eat,” the researchers explain. “This might be because they have had an acute change in circumstances, are on a low income, in debt, or because their benefits have either changed or been delayed.”
Making support more accessible
The main objective of the project was to extend assistance beyond the provision of food, enabling individuals reliant on food banks to access crucial guidance and advice across various domains, including housing, debt, and benefits. By offering comprehensive support services within the food bank setting, the pilot project aimed to empower individuals and address the multifaceted challenges they face.
“We wanted to see whether making more support available to people at food banks would help—so that they would no longer need to rely on emergency food,” the authors continue. “We know that signposting, for example giving information about other local organizations, is not enough. This is because people’s issues are complex and need a more holistic approach.”
Based on the outcomes of the project, the team hopes to expand the scheme nationwide, making it accessible to food banks across the country. By implementing this model on a broader scale, policymakers and organizations involved in combating poverty hope to significantly impact the lives of vulnerable individuals and facilitate their journey toward a more secure and stable future.
A person-centered approach
“One of the main things that emerged was that having a person-centered, holistic, and compassionate approach is essential for clients with complex needs that cut across many different services,” the researchers explain. “It can be very difficult for people to navigate the benefit system, the housing system, social services—you need a joined-up approach with advisers that can help on a number of levels.”
Numerous individuals remain unaware of their eligibility for essential benefits, such as Healthy Start vouchers and pension credits, resulting in a significant proportion of the population missing out on these vital resources.
Among those seeking assistance from food banks, a substantial number grapple with precarious mental or physical health conditions, compounded by personal traumas. By incorporating advisors within the immediate context of individuals’ needs, the necessity of repeatedly recounting personal narratives to disparate organizations can be alleviated.
“We found that the service is reaching very vulnerable people who fall through the gaps, in the heart of really deprived communities,” the researchers conclude. “These people may have previously found advice services inaccessible, and they are too often socially excluded from opportunities and services that could support them.”
