FIGHTING HUNGER

As the Cost of Living Crisis continues unabated, some of the most vulnerable members of society are suffering most. However, with food price inflation at a 45-year high in February1, ever more people are facing food insecurity and hunger.

SHOCKINGLY, OVER 13 MILLION PEOPLE (9.3 MILLION ADULTS AND 4 MILLION CHILDREN) EXPERIENCED FOOD INSECURITY IN JANUARY 2023 2 . THIS REPRESENTS NEARLY 20% OF THE UK POPULATION, OR ONE IN FIVE PEOPLE 3

Over the past year, the profile of those experiencing food insecurity has changed significantly.

OVER ONE THIRD (38.6%) ARE IN EMPLOYMENT, MANY IN KEY SECTORS SUCH AS THE FOOD INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, AND HEALTHCARE.

Households with children continue to be disproportionately affected, with one in four (24.4%) experiencing food insecurity4 .

There is a complex landscape of poverty in the areas FareShare Sussex & Surrey operate in, which are often seen as affluent. Poverty leading to hunger can be hidden from view. We cover 104 wards which are within the lowest 20% of deprived communities across Sussex and Surrey5

They have above national average levels of homelessness, affordable housing, alcohol and substance abuse, single parent families, self-harm, elderly populations and rural poverty.

Inability to access food affects overall wellbeing and mental health, including engendering feelings of isolation, depression, shame and anxiety6 and 7. As of February 2023, over three quarters of food-insecure households with children were also worried about the impact of food insecurity on their children’s mental and physical health 8

Meanwhile, in the past year we have also seen empty shelves in stores, highlighting the unpredictability of food availability.

Less food is flowing through the system due to supply chain disruption brought on by Covid-19 and Brexit and the impact of climate change on farming. The war in Ukraine has also exacerbated the Cost of Living Crisis through inflating energy prices and further disrupting the supply chain.

UK PRODUCT RANGES WITHIN SUPERMARKETS HAVE SHRUNK BY 12% AND UK FOOD PRODUCTION IS DOWN 7%.

At the same time as surplus food volumes are declining, the demand for our services is ever increasing. We have a waiting list of charities and community partners that want to join our network: 17 in Sussex and 30 ready to sign up when our Surrey depot opens. Furthermore, 27 of our current charity partners have increased their food volumes.

Our food is a vital lifeline for vulnerable people in our community and we are determined to keep rising to the challenges to source and supply nutritious, good-to-eat surplus food, fighting hunger in the counties we serve.

1 ONS (2023). Consumer Price Inflation, UK: February 2023.

2 The Food Foundation (2023). Food Insecurity Tracking. Round 12.

3 Office for National Statistics (2022). Population estimates.

4 The Food Foundation (2023). Food Insecurity Tracking.

5 (National Indices of Deprivation)

6 Yau, A. et al. (2019). Socio-demographic characteristics, diet and health among food insecure UK adults, Public Health Nutrition.

7 Purdam, K. et al. (2015). Hungry? Food Insecurity, Social Stigma and Embarrassment in the UK. Sociology.

8 The Food Foundation (2023). Food Insecurity Tracking. Round 12. Children.