The Rise of Food Banks in UK

Inequality has reached levels of despair across the globe, and globalisation and lack of fair distribution of wealth have long been one of the main topics of the leaders of British society. In recent years, cosmopolitan and global cities such as London have seen this issue spreading more rapidly and greater than other regions of the globe. Britain has become significantly richer since 1983 when the economy experienced an important growth and prosperity. However, the living standards did not manage to maintain the same speed and incomes were decreasing long before the 2008 crash when inequality had become more evident. Hence, living standards in Britain also fell even more significantly behind expectations and could not follow the economic growth (Lanley and Mack, 2015, pg33).

As a result of rising inequality, those more vulnerable Londoners have sought alternative ways of managing this issue and find shelter and food in the city. The numbers of homeless people in London has risen rather significantly due to unequal distribution of wealth. Although it is difficult to estimate the scale of homelessness in London, alternative agencies have estimated that about 8000 people are currently living on the streets of London. However, this number increases quite drastically if those who live in temporary accommodation, hostels, squats and another similar emergency alternatives are taken into consideration. Moreover, it is important to include homeless people who describe themselves as ‘no fixed abode’, who are temporarily sleeping in hospitals and police stations as a way of tackling this issue as a last resource. Moreover, according to a report published by the charitable organisation Shelter, 28,420 homeless people visited The University College Hospital in 1992, seeking not only medical help but emergency shelter as well. This number is predicted to have quadrupled since (North and Moore, 1996). On the other hand, it has been extremely difficult to obtain precise numbers from any of the agencies, including statistics from the government. Past surveys have been rather inconclusive, and in addition to that, the methodologies used in some cases were also questionable (Moore, 1995, pg 37).

Moreover, the number of people living under the poverty line in London has also increased, putting even more, pressure on the government, consequently, revealing how unequal the current situation in London is. As per The Trussel Trust, which runs 57 Foodbanks in London alone, in 2012/13, there were 12,839 visits to their facilities by citizens seeking emergency help for food aid. However, this number has increased to 63,367 in 2013/14; these numbers are most likely to keep increasing as no long-term solution have been presented by the government (Bbc.co.uk, 2014).

Although the initiative of providing food banks is welcomed by the majority, there is still a constant clash between people who support charities which provide emergency food aid and those who criticise such strategies. The main reasons for opposing the idea of charitable food are that food banks are meant to be an emergency resort and short term solution for those facing a short-term difficulty to make ends meet. However, families become more dependent on food banks and what meant to be a short-term solution, turns to be perhaps the only way out of hunger. In addition to that, there has been a drastic increase of families seeking such help, especially in recent years, as the gap between social classes has drastically expanded. Most importantly, it has revealed the government’s inefficiency to tackle issues surrounding social inequalities and being unable to produce a solid solution. It is also questionable as for why the government is not able or willing to take responsibility for this issue, and in some cases, the government's failures to address the issue properly becomes the main reason for continuity of the social injustice and inequality, hence the food banks. Moreover, food banks are a response to the government's failure to act proactively in this matter. Another criticism is the fact that food banks might play as an incentive for people not to find a way out of poverty and seek employment.
The three main reasons behind the creation of food banks are: Delay or cut on benefits, unemployment and rise of food prices. The Trussel Trust has provided studies of families in poverty and cases where statistics revealed that 55% of families referred to foodbanks are only seeking help from those organisations due to issues with their benefits; change of status and other bureaucracies are the main reason for benefits reaching the families on time. Families depending on benefits have no other alternative of income and food banks are more likely to be the only way to manage to get hold of food. It also suggested that those families may also be struggling with domestic violence, family breakups and/or personal debt. It has been highlighted how far the government is from having a clear understanding of the depth of this situation. Moreover, Iain Duncan Smith, Work and Pensions secretary during the time of the report, 2013, refused to meet the chairman of the charity and face the issue (Lansley and Mack, 2015).
It is important to highlight that at the start of the food distribution via foods banks, those seeking emergency food aid had a great sense of shame and most of the times only seek such help as a very last resort. There was a great concern by those families about how they would be seen by the community for seeking food aid. However, in contrast, recent studies have shown that families seeking emergency food aid have felt welcomed during foodbanks visits and in many cases, families have stated that they no longer feel isolated after seeking help. (Purdam, Garratt and Esmail, 2016). However, the feeling of the embarrassment of those who reject the help of food banks has a massive negative impact, not only on the families themselves but also on the community and the future of the nation. In a study published by Save the Children, conducted by UNICEF in 2013, it was shown that malnutrition affects children’s development during the early years. It shows that children with scarce nutritional intake score on average 7% lower on maths, are nearly 20% less likely to be able to read a simple sentence at the age of 8, and 12% less likely to be able to write simple sentences. Moreover, 13% of students are less likely to be in the appropriate grade for their age at school (savethechildren.org.uk, 2013).
Such a situation of malnutrition among young students produces a negative vicious circle. Students who are not able to have proper nutrition during early ages are more likely to fall behind in their studies and not able to cope with tests and assignments, as a result, they are more likely to stay in poverty during adulthood. Students experiencing such scenario are more likely to give up or drop out of school due to low marks achieved. Support from family also plays a crucial part on the student’s performance, however, once basic needs such as adequate food is a challenge to be provided, other supports become ever more challenging. Therefore, it will also make it rather difficult for those students to be accepted at universities in the future or even apply for it, consequently, not being able to achieve higher positions at work or even leave the poverty line.
Although a debate can be made regarding the real cause of the food aid, poverty in London and in the UK increases the needs for food banks and it is important to mention that the government needs to tackle the issue differently. The lack of appropriate nutrition has to be associated with basic needs of human rights. Moreover, it is fair to agree that there are great consequences of malnutrition and access to quality food in the British society. Policy makers and the government must work closely in order to produce more practical and clear policies when it comes to food taxation and distribution, and in addition, food safety has to be prioritised.
However, Hannah Lambie-Mumford (2013) argues that the increase of food banks is a symptom of society’s failure to tackle inequality, an issue that should not exist in the first place. The right to food is a basic need, which without, it can only escalate other inefficiencies in our society. Most importantly, not only quantity but also the quality of food has to be faced with the same level of importance. Access to quality food is equally important, especially for a long-term solution. Hunger and access to adequate food are not only financial issues, but it is also a social issue that deserves to be taken as seriously as any other health problems.