A commitment to a ‘cash-first’ approach to tackling food
insecurity is at the heart of a new plan to reduce the need for
people to turn to food banks.
The plan, which is the first of its kind in the UK and is
underpinned by human rights, sets out nine actions which will be
taken over the next three years to improve responses to food
insecurity.
Actions include establishing a new £1.8 million Cash-First
Programme to help reduce the demand for emergency food parcels by
improving urgent access to cash in crisis and associated support.
The Scottish Government will work with councils, the third sector
and community food initiatives to help prevent future need by
integrating money advice and wider support into crisis responses.
Social Justice Secretary said:
“Whilst none of us want food banks, we recognise the important
role they play for people in need. This plan, the first of its
kind by any UK Government, will support people who face food
insecurity and will move us closer to our longer-term ambition of
a country where there is no need for food banks.
“We want to ensure we reach people in need and by providing a
cash-first approach, backed by advice and support, we will
support people to strengthen their incomes and prevent future
hardship and crisis, allowing them more choice and dignity.
“Tackling poverty and protecting people from harm is one of the
Scottish Government’s three critical missions. The Trussell Trust
suggests that our Scottish Child Payment may have helped to slow
the pace of demand for emergency food parcels last year.
“Without the full economic and fiscal powers of an independent
nation we can’t eradicate poverty, but we are taking all the
action we can to support people within our limited powers and
fixed budget.”
The plan also includes up to £623,000 funding for the British Red
Cross to continue a Scottish Crisis Fund, which provides people
at risk of destitution – including survivors of domestic abuse,
and those no recourse to public funds – with emergency grants to
purchase the food and other essentials.
Phil Arnold, Head of Refugee Support for Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland, British Red Cross said:
"The Scottish Crisis Fund is a lifeline emergency payment for
people in crisis. The fund enables people to continue accessing
essential food, clothing, hygiene products and transport to get
to key appointments, at an acute period of distress in their
lives.
"The increased cost of living, widening dispersal of people
seeking asylum to areas without specialist support, and reduced
rights for people seeking protection in the UK, all underline the
importance of a joined-up, properly resourced safety net which
this fund plays an important role in providing."
Polly Jones, head of Scotland for the Trussell Trust said: “We
welcome this first plan to end the need for food banks from any
government in the UK, and it comes at a time when the use of food
banks is at an all-time high. Ending the need for charitable food
aid requires significant leadership and urgency from all levels
of government.
“The Trussell Trust is committed to working with the Scottish
Government to support it to do what charities cannot and deliver
bold long-term action to increase people’s income and ensure
everyone can afford the essentials.
Sabine Goodwin, Coordinator of the Independent Food Aid Network,
said: “The Scottish Government has powers to reduce food
insecurity and adopt a truly cash-first, income-focused strategy
to end the need for charitable food aid in Scotland.
“As the poverty crisis deepens, frontline teams across Scotland
are eager to see a time when no one needs to turn to any form of
charitable food aid provision to get by. We welcome this plan and
the Scottish Government’s commitment to critical steps towards
that cash-first future.”
Background
Cash-First: Towards ending the
need for food banks in Scotland
Scotland is the first nation in the UK to publish a plan towards
ending the need for food banks, and this ambition is shared by
food bank networks.
The Scottish Government recognises the pressure on household
budgets and has allocated almost £3 billion, both last year and
this, to support policies which tackle poverty and protect people
as far as possible during the ongoing cost of living crisis. In
2022-23 this included an additional £1.8 million for food groups
and an extra £2.5 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Anyone who is struggling financially can get advice through their
local authority, a local advice service, or Social Security
Scotland or by visiting the Scottish Government’s cost of living
website.
The Trussell Trust found that the increase in the number of
parcels provided for children in the second half of the year was
17% in Scotland compared to 42% in England.
