HUNGER AND POVERTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

1. HUNGER AND POVERTY IN NORTHERN IRELAND Dr Sinéad Furey @DrSineadFurey Trussell Trust Roadshow 21 May 2019

2. Overview Hunger and Poverty in Northern Ireland The growing problems of food poverty and insecurity Northern Ireland in context Ulster University food poverty research The critical role of volunteers Next steps

3. Food Poverty A definition… Food Poverty “The inability to consume an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food for health, in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty that one will be able to do so.” (Dowler, 2001)

4. Background Statement of the problem Food poverty: the inability to afford or access a healthy diet Short-term and long-term effects Result: food poverty = a public health emergency Food banks = rapid increase and demand for assistance ‘Governmentality’ around food has shifted:

5. Food bank volunteers Volunteer time is key to the operation of food banks;without their participation food bank services would be withdrawn (Burns et al., 2006). Volunteers = indispensable human capital and the lifeblood in the operation of food banks (do Paço and Agostinho, 2012). THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO! Ulster UNiversitsyconducted nine interviews with food bank organisers/volunteers to identify re-development opportunities in two NI local authority areas.   High volunteer turnover increases training requirements which may represent a financial burden. TrussellTrust training around food hygiene, manual handling, health and safety, first aid and social media was considered to come with phenomenal support and were deemed to be the most useful in improving performance/ Volunteers suggested additional courses in areas such as nutrition, dealing with people, benefit advice and welfare reform to enhance distribution of services.

6. The growing problems of food poverty and insecurity Food banks have increased over the past 10+ years The context for the rise in food banks are rises in food poverty due to: • Benefit delays • Benefit Changes • Debt • Increasing essential cost of living (housing and utility bills)

7. Northern Ireland October 2012: • MLAs debated the growth of food banks • Voted to “welcome the positive response” of food banks • Called on the Minister for Social Development to “support and promote” their work. The need for a response is now more pressing than ever.

8. Northern Ireland in Context Poverty 18% living in relative poverty, before housing costs (Department for Communities, 2018). Food Security 5% had not eaten a substantial meal at least one day in the last fortnight due to a lack of money. Rises to 10% for the most deprived quintile (Department of Health, 2017). Low income households spend more than their higher income counterparts on food and non alcoholic drinks (13.6% cf. 7.8%; average = 10.5%).

9. Measuring Food Poverty No accepted food poverty indicator Typically use EU-SILC Food Deprivation Measures Levels of deprivation based on: • Minimum Income Standard • Level of deprivation

10. UUBS comparison of food insecurity scales EU-SILC (4-item scale; no child-specific questions) No (0) positive responses to food deprivation measures: 65.6% One in three (34.4%) experienced at least one measure of food deprivation All (4) positive responses to food deprivation measures: 7.3% FIES (8-item scale; no child-specific questions) Food secure / Mild food insecurity (0-3 measures): 84.1% Moderate food insecurity (4-6 measures): 8.9% Severe food insecurity (7-8 measures): 7.1% One in three 35.7% (278/779) reported experiencing at least one food poverty measure concerned with eating less healthy foods or skipping meals etc. HFSSM (10-item adult scale; 8-item child scale) One in five (21.2%; 133/628) reported experiencing at least one food poverty measure concerned with worry about running out of food or not eating enough. 79 households with children confirmed experiencing at least one food poverty measure.

11. Qualitative findings “Because although money is tight in our house we budget so we make sure we always have enough money for food which may mean sacrificing other things, like treats, but feeding our children and ourselves is a priority.” “Embarrassed at not having money for basics, with both of us working.” “… at present our financial situation is uncomplicated. I fear for the future though.” “Food bank Friday.” “I know my budget: sometimes 'food' is biscuits.” “It makes me feel terrible to think that some people living in this, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, may not have enough money to have a large meal, or to give gifts of food to their friends and extended family. It makes me feel sick to think about that.” “Based on the last fortnight I have been able to afford meals but, as a working single parent, I worried about feeding my son over the summer and as a result couldn't afford meals for myself. Food is fast becoming an issue for me and it is embarrassing to have to admit that despite working there are still times when you have to go hungry to support your child. You feel entirely responsible.”

12. Minimum Essential Standards of Living • Two-parent, two-child: £153 per week; • One-parent, two-child: £99 per week; • Two-parent, two-child: £115 per week; and • Pensioner living alone: £57 per week.

13. The cultural and economic dimensions of food poverty Shopping basket research Investigates the affordability and availability of food Consensual shopping basket methodology for Minimum Essential Standard of Living (Safefood et al, 2016) Prices compared against The normal price of the cheapest option for each food bank food item (mysupermarket.co.uk) from four supermarkets (Asda, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco) – cheapest = £7.57

14. So what does this mean? 1.18 million people received three-day emergency food supplies £9 million (approx.) (1.18million x £7.57) PLUS FareShare provision of 21.9 million meals (surplus food) and additional benefit to civil society £10/12 million PLUS Other food aid providers £3 million Total £22–24 million X 3.2 cost differential for a healthy basket X 8 £563 - £640 million social aid

15. Food banks and their contribution / detraction from welfare budgets The charitable sector is currently contributing £60 - £75 million as food aid Equivalent to 0.02/0.03% of the total UK Government's welfare budget or 0.4% of the allocation to social welfare The hidden costs of not doing this will be found in increasing chronic disease and mental health costs, we ask the question — can we afford not to do this?

16. I agree with your vision… “No one in the UK should be pushed into poverty and hunger and need a food bank’s help. We want to see a future where we can start seeing food banks close because everyone has enough money coming in to cover the costs of essential.” [Trussell Trust, 2019]. ~~~~~ The shifting governmentality of food (from public to charitable sector) absolves the Government from its moral obligation to provide social security – depoliticizes the issue[Caraher and Furey, 2018]. ~~~~~ “Foodbanks are a testimony to the failure of public authorities to deliver on the right to food and should be neither a permanent feature nor a substitute for more robust social programs.” [de Schutter, 2013]. ~~~~~ “The voluntary sector has done an admirable job of picking up the slack for those government functions that have been cut or de facto outsourced.” [Alston, 2019].

17. Right to Food Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 (Article 25) enshrines the right to food International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) • Both explicitly name adequate food and housing as basic human rights. Sustainable Development Goals (UN, 2015) • No Poverty and Zero Hunger We need to protect this right and address the gap between income and food costs

18. Conclusion Access to food is an undeniable right. We cannot ignore hunger on our doorstep. Food poverty is a complex issue. Requires an integrated and joined-up approach to policy making. Benefit levels should be made adequate to access a socially acceptable and healthy diet Address the gap between income and food prices

19. References Burns, D., Reid, J., Toncar, M., Fawcett, J. and Anderson, C. (2006) Motivations to volunteer: the role of altruism. International Review on Public and Non-Profit Marketing,3 (2), 79–91. Caraher, M. and Furey, S. (2018) The economics of emergency food aid provision: A financial, cultural and social perspective.London: Palgrave Macmillan. [ISBN 978-3-319-78505-9] Department for Communities. (2018) Poverty bulletin: NI 2016/17. Available from: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/communities/ni-poverty-bulletin-201617.pdf Department of Health. (2017) Health survey for NI – Trend Tables. Available from: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/health-survey-northern-ireland-first-results-201617 do Paço, A. and Agostinho, D. (2012) Does the kind of bond matter? The case of food bank volunteer. International Review on Public and Non-Profit Marketing, 9 (2), 105-118. Dowler, E. (2001) Inequalities in diet and physical activity in Europe. Public Health Nutrition, 4(2B), 701-709.

20. References Hawkes, C., & Webster, J. (2001). Too much and too little? Debates on surplus food redistribution. London: Sustain. Office for National Statistics. (2017) Detailed household expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure by disposable income decile group, UK: Table 3.2. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/personalandhouseholdfinances/expenditure/datasets/detailedhouseholdexpenditureasapercentageoftotalexpenditurebydisposableincomedecilegroupuktable32e Safefood, Food Standards Agency in NI and Consumer Council. (2016) What is the cost of a healthy food basket in Northern Ireland in 2016? Available from: https://www.safefood.eu/SafeFood/media/SafeFoodLibrary/Documents/Publications/Research%20Reports/Healthy-Food-Basket_Summary-Sheet-NI-2016.pdf

21. References Trussell Trust. (2018) Benefit levels must keep pace with rising cost of essentials. Available from: https://www.trusselltrust.org/2018/04/24/benefit-levels-must-keep-pace-rising-cost-essentials-record-increase-foodbank-figures-revealed/ United Nations. (1989) Convention on the rights of the child. Available from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx United Nations. (1966) International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights. Available from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cescr.asp UN (1948) The universal declaration of human rights. Available from http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/. Winne, M. (2009). Closing the food gap: Resetting the table in the land of plenty. Boston: Beacon Press.

22. Additional reading Caraher, M. and Furey, S. (2018).(2018) The Economics of Emergency Food Aid Provision: A Financial, Social and Cultural PerspectiveLondon: Palgrave Macmillan eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-78506-6; DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-78506-6; Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-78505-9

23. Acknowledgements Martin Caraher, Professor of Food Policy, City, University of London Dr Chris McLaughlin, Institute of Technology, Sligo Ms Emma Beacom, Ms Ursula Quinn, and Dr Dawn Surgenor, Ulster University

24. Thank you! Any Questions? ms.furey@ulster.ac.uk