SCOTTISH POVERTY & INEQUALITY
RESEARCH UNIT
LocalactioninScotlandtotacklefoodinsecurityduringthecoronaviruscrisis
June2020
John H. McKendrick and Stephen Campbell
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 2
MainMessagesThePovertyandInequalityCommissiontaskedtheScottishPoverty&InequalityResearchUnit(SPIRU)tohelpitbetterunderstandemergencyfoodprovisioninScotlandduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Howdowetalkabouttheseissues?• Foodinsecurityisrunningoutoffood,duetoalackofmoneyorotherresources.• Emergencyfoodprovisionreferstotheprovisionoffoodtohouseholdsduringthecoronavirus
crisis.• Emergencyfoodprovisionaimstoprovideforthosewhoarefoodinsecure,andthosewhohave
sufficientmoneyorresources,butwhomighthavedifficultyaccessingsufficientfoodforotherreasons.
Whatdidweknowattheoutset?• Beforethecoronaviruscrisis,almostoneintenadultsinScotlandreportedthattheyhad
worriedaboutrunningoutoffoodatsometimeoverthelasttwelvemonths,asaresultoflackofmoneyorresources.
• Casestudy,anecdotalandsurveyevidencesuggeststhatfoodsecurity,accessandavailabilityhaveallworsenedasaresultofthecoronaviruscrisis.
• TheScottishGovernmenthasinvested£70millionthroughtheFoodFundtotacklefoodinsecurityandproblemsassociatedwithaccesstofood,andavailabilityoffoodduringthecoronaviruscrisis.
• ThePovertyandInequalityCommissionhaspreviouslyrecommendedthattheScottishGovernmentprovidesmorevisibleleadershiparoundemergencyfoodprovision,andthatitappointsaspokespersontoreassurepeopleduringthecoronaviruscrisis.
Whatdidwedo?• Weadministeredasurveyinmid-lateMay2020tocanvasstheexperiencesandopinionsof
frontlineorganisationsworkingincommunitiesacrossScotland.• 211organisationsresponded,withmultipleresponsesfrom(organisationsworkingwithin)each
ofScotland’s32localauthorities.• AswereceivedunevenresponsesacrossScotland,weweightedtheresultstoincrease
confidencethatourevidencebaseisrepresentativeofScotlandasawhole;wegeneratedheadlinestatisticsforScotland;weexploreddifferencesamongfrontlineorganisations;andwereflectedoncasestudyexperiences.
• Fromthisdata,weestablishedanationalunderstandingofcurrentexperiences;changesoverthepreviousmonth;anticipatedchangesoverthenextmonth;resourcing;andthenatureoffrontlineorganisationsprovidingemergencyfoodsupport.
Whatdidwefind?Onthewhole,theprovisionofemergencyfoodprovisionisreportedtobeworkingwell.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineprovidersofemergencyfoodarereportingthattheyaresatisfiedwiththemajorityofissuesrelatedtothatprovision.However,specificstresspointsarehighlightedandasenseofemergingconcernoverwhatliesaheadisalsoevident.
3 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
What’shappeningrightnow?• What’sworking.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthattheycurrently:(i)have
enoughvolunteers;(ii)haveenoughfundstodeliverwork;(iii)thinkthatthereiseffectivelocalco-ordination;(iv)haveanadequatesupplyoffood;(v)arenotconcernedoverPPEequipmentforworkers/volunteers;and(vi)arenotconcernedforthephysicalhealthoftheirworkers/volunteers.
• Emergencyfoodprovisiontakesmanyforms.Three-quartersoffrontlineorganisationsweresourcingtheirfoodfrommultiplesources.Themostcommonformofsupportwasdistributingfoodparcelstopeopletopreparetheirownfood(76%).
• Organisationsprovidingemergencyfoodsupportarealsoprovidingawiderangeofnon-foodrelatedsupport.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsprovidingemergencyfoodwerealsoprovidingthreeormoreformsofnon-foodbasedsupport.Themostcommonformsofsuchsupportthatwerereportedweresignpostingpeopletoothersourcesoffinancialsupport(77%)andbefriendingand/orcheck-upcalls(70%).
• Notreachingeveryoneinneed.Fouroutofeveryfivefrontlineprovidersareconcernedthattheyarenotreachingeveryoneinneedofemergencyfoodsupport(80%).Afurtheroneintenreportthattheydonotknowwhethertheyarereachingeveryoneinneed(11%).
• UnsurewhetherScotlandisdelivering.Only15%opinedthatScotlandissuccessfullydeliveringemergencyfood.Thevastmajorityreportthatthey‘don’tknow’(77%).
• Contactwithlocalauthority.Thevastmajorityreportthattheyareincontactwiththeirlocalauthority(91%),althoughonly41%report“alot”ofcontact.
HavethingsImproved?• Manythingshaveimprovedoverthelastmonth.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreport
thatimprovementshavebeenexperienced:(i)co-ordinationbylocalworkbylocalauthority;(ii)supplyoffood;(iii)accesstofunding;(iv)amountoffunding,and(v)adviceandsupportprovidedlocally.
• Largelystayingthesame,butwherethereischange,itismorelikelytobeforthebetter.Thisbestdescribestherecenttrendfor(i)numberofworkers;and(ii)accesstoPPEequipmentforworkers.
• Demandhasrisen.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthatdemandforemergencyfoodhasrisenoverthelastmonth(65%).
• Costofbuyingfood.Whilethemostcommonexperiencewasthatthecostoffoodhadremainedthesameoverthelastmonth(52%),asignificantminorityoffrontlineprovidersreportedthatthecostoffoodhadincreased(34%).
• Wellbeingofworkers/volunteers.Theheadlineispositive(18%reportingthatwellbeinghadimprovedand64%reportingthatwellbeinghadstayedthesame).However,asizableminorityoforganisationsreportthatwellbeingisworsening(18%),andsomedescribedthestressesonworkers/volunteerswerebuildingandreachinga‘pinchpoint’.
Willthingsgetbetter?• Moreofthesame.Nochangewasthemostcommonresponse;fortenoftheelevenissueson
whichexpectationsoverthenextmonthwerecanvassed,themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsexpectednothingtochange.
• Fundingconcernsareemerging.Althoughthemajorityoffrontlineorganisationsanticipatenochangeoverthenextmonth,asizableminorityexpectedtheamountoffundingtoreduce(33%)andaccesstofundingtoworsen(30%).
• Risingdemand.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsanticipatethatdemandforemergencyfoodwillriseoverthelastmonth(73%).
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 4
Whoisservingtheircommunity?• Independentcommunityorganisations.Althoughadiversegroupoforganisationsreportedthat
theywereprovidingemergencyfoodsupport,60%ofthemcouldbedescribedas‘independentcommunityorganisations’.
• Diversebackgroundsinfoodprovision.Frontlineprovidersofemergencyfoodprovisionwerealmostequallysplitbetweenthoseforwhomfoodhasalwaysbeentheircorebusiness(30%),thosethathavealwaysofferedafoodservice(31%)andthosewhowereextendingtheirworktoprovideafoodserviceduringthiscoronaviruscrisis(39%).
• Backgroundintacklingpoverty.Themajorityoffrontlineprovidersreportedabackgroundintacklingpoverty,eitherastheircorebusiness(34%),orinacknowledgementthattheircorebusinesshasatacklingpovertyimpact(41%).One-infourdidnothaveabackgroundintacklingpoverty,withoneinsevenperceivingthattheywereextendingtheirworktohaveatacklingpovertyimpactduringthecrisis(16%)andoneintenperceivingthattheiractionswerenotabouttacklingpoverty(9%).
• Diverserangeofgeographies.Frontlineorganisationsreportedarangeofgeographicalreach,rangingfromfocusedontheirneighbourhood(18%)tothoseservingthewholeoftheirlocalauthority(21%)andthosewithawiderreachacrossmultiplelocalauthorities.
• Servingeveryone.Twothirdsoffrontlineorganisationsprovidedaservicethatwasnottargetedororientedtowardparticularpopulationgroups(69%).Onlyone-in-tenprovidedaservicethatwastargetedataparticularpopulationgroup(10%).
Howarecommunitygroupsbeingresourced?• ScottishGovernmentfunding.Twothirdsoffrontlineorganisations(67%)respondingtothe
surveyreportedsomeformoffundingfromoneoftheFundsintroducedbytheScottishGovernmentinMarch2020toprovide£350millionofemergencysupportinScotland.
• Prevalenceofdonationsandcharitablefunding.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedreceivingdonationsfromindividuals(57%)andgrantsfromcharitableorganisations/foundations(56%).
• Drawingonreserves.Twofifthsoffrontlineorganisationsreporteddrawingontheirownorganisationalreservestoprovideemergencyfoodsupport(39%).
• Diverserangeoffoodsupplies.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedsourcingfoodfromatleastfivesources(51%).Threequartersoffrontlineorganisationsreportedhavingboughtfoodfromlocalshopsandsuppliers(73%),whilealmosttwothirdshadreceivedpublicdonations(64%)ordonationsfromlocalsupermarkets(61%).
• Faresharesupply.MorethanonehalfofthefrontlineorganisationsrespondingtothesurveyreportedreceivingfoodtodistributefromFareshare(53%).
Whathappensnow?• TheScottishPovertyandInequalityResearchUnitofGlasgowCaledonianUniversityhasmade
thisreportfreelyavailableassoftcopy.• ThePovertyandInequalityCommissionwillpublisharesponsetothisindependentresearch
report.• TheScottishPovertyandInequalityResearchUnitwilldisseminatefindingsbycontributingto
webinarsandspecialistprofessionalpublications.• ThePovertyandInequalityCommissionwillcontinuetomonitorfoodinsecurityduringthe
coronaviruscrisisandmayresolvetopublishathirdresearch-basedbriefingtoreflectonchangessincelateMay2020.
5 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Ourrecommendations1. ProvideNationalReassurance.InApril2020,thePovertyandInequalityCommission
recommendedthattheScottishGovernmentprovidesnationalleadershipandguidanceaboutfoodprovisionduringthispandemic.DespitetheconsiderableScottishGovernmentinvestment,only15%ofcommunityorganisationsreportinmid-May2020thattheywereawarethatemergencyfoodwasdeliveringwhatScotlandrequired.ThisexpertopiniontendstosuggestthatScotlandmightnotyetbereassuredthatitistacklingfoodinsecurityduringthecrisis.
2. Supportingworker/volunteerwellbeing.Two-fifthsoforganisationsnowhaveconcernsover
thewellbeingofworkers/volunteers(43%),withlessthanoneinfiveofallorganisationsanticipatingthatthiswillimproveoverthenextmonth(16%).Takingstepstosupportthosewhoareprovidingemergencyfoodsupportshouldbeanimmediatepriority.
3. Understandingandmeetingrisingdemand.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportthat
demandhasincreasedoverthelastmonth(65%)andthatdemandforemergencyfoodisexpectedtoincreasefurtheroverthenextmonth(72%).Thereisaneedtobetterunderstandthedriversofthesedemands,thepopulationswhoremainvulnerable,inordertotakestepstotacklefoodinsecurityatthecurrenttime.
4. Impactofreturntoworkafterfurlough.Thereareconcernsthattherisingstressreported
amongtheemergencyfoodworkforceandtherisingdemandforemergencyfoodwillcoincidewithalossoflabourassomeworkersreturntothelabourmarketattheendoffurlough.ThereisaneedtoensurethatemergencyfoodcancontinuetodeliverwhatisrequiredasScotlandmovesoutoflockdown.
5. Understandinghowtoreachunmetneed.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportconcerns
thattheyarenotreachingeveryonewhoneedsfoodsupport(80%thinktheyarenotandafurther10%areunsure).Weneedtofindoutmoreaboutpotentiallevelofunmetneedanddevelopstrategiestoextendhelp.
6. Actiononfunding.Concernsarenowbeginningtoemergeoveraccesstofunding,andthe
amountoffundingoverthenextmonth.Aroundonethirdareconcernedabouttheamountoffundingavailable(33%)andaccessingfunding(30%).OnannouncingthelaunchoftheFoodFund,theScottishGovernmentcommittedtoextendingsupportifnecessary.ItisnownecessarytolookaheadtobeyondtheendofJunetoconfirmwhethermorefundswillberequiredtoensurefoodsecurityinthemonthsahead.
7. Resilienceoffrontlineorganisations.Asignificantproportionoffrontlineorganisationsreport
thattheyhavedrawnonorganisationalreservestodeliveremergencyfoodduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Thereisapressingneedtoensurethattheviabilityofthesecommunityresourcesisnotthreatened,andtoexaminethelonger-termimplicationsofanysignificantdiversionoffundingtodeliveremergencyfoodsupport.Intheshort-term,theimmediateconcernistoensurethattheseorganisationshavesufficientresourcetocontinuetodeliveremergencyfoodsupport,particularlythosethattypicallyexperienceanincreasedemandfortheirservicesoverthesummerperiod(suchasorganisations‘substituting’forthelossoffreeschoolmealsovertheholidayperiod).
Continuedoverleaf
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 6
8. Utilisationofpublicbuildingsandcommunityresources.Althoughtherewasevidenceof
responsiveadaptationtomeetdemand,someconcernswereexpressedovertheuseofpublicbuildings,kitchensandothercommunityresources.Somereflectionisrequiredtoensurethatsuchlocalresourcescanbemobilisedeffectivelytotackleanyfuturenationalemergency.
9. Exploringqualitativedifferencesacrossfrontlineorganisations.Inthelonger-term,itwouldbe
instructivetoreflectondifferencesinhowemergencyfoodprovisionwasdeliveredinScotland.Ourevidencehighlightsvariationsingeographicalreach,populationtargeting,priorexpertiseinfood,andpriorroleinanti-povertyactivity.Furthermore,ourevidencesuggeststhattheremaybewaysinwhichthesedifferencesamongorganisationsmayberelatedtohowthisworkisbeingdelivered.Understandingandevaluatingdifferentapproachestodeliveringemergencyfoodsupportwouldbeofvaluetoinformfutureanti-povertypractice,bothinandbeyondcrisissituations.
10. Transformativeandcollaborativepractice.Someconcernwasexpressedthatsomeofthebest
practicethathasemergedduringthisperiodmaybelostinafuturethat‘returnstonormal’.Itisrecommendedthatanyevaluationofemergencyfoodprovisionreflectscloselyonlessonsthatmightbelearnedforfuturepracticeinpubicserviceprovisionandanti-povertyaction.
11. Whatpeoplewithlivedexperienceofpovertythink.Theobjectiveofthisworkwastobetter
understandtheexperienceoffrontlineorganisations.Moregenerally,thePovertyandInequalityCommission,andScotland’santi-povertysector,iscommittedto‘givingvoice’tothelivedexperienceofpoverty.Therearebothimmediateandlonger-termissuestoconsider.OfimmediateconcernistheneedtolearnfromthewiderangeofstudiesinScotlandandbeyondwhich,althoughnotfocusedonfood,areprovidinginsightintofoodinsecuritythroughsharingthelivedexperienceofpovertyduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Inthelongerterm,itwouldbeusefultoengagethosewithlivedexperienceofpovertytobetterunderstandtheimpactofreceivingemergencyfoodsupportduringthiscoronaviruscrisis.
12. Acknowledgetheworkoffrontlineorganisations.Itisreadilyapparentthatcommunity
organisationsarefirmlycommittedtotheirwork,takeprideinwhattheydo,andreporthowtheyaremakingapositivedifferenceintheircommunities.Thecontributionsoffrontlinecommunityorganisationsshouldcontinuetobeacknowledgedbyallwithresponsibilityformanaginglocalandnationalresponsetothecoronaviruscrisis.
7 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
TableofContentsMainMessages..............................................................................................................................2TableofContents...........................................................................................................................7Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................81.FoodInsecurityinScotland........................................................................................................9
1.1 –Whatisfoodinsecurity?.......................................................................................................................91.2 –Whatisthescaleoftheproblem?........................................................................................................91.3 –WhatistheScottishGovernment’sinterestinfoodinsecurity?..........................................................91.4 –HowistheScottishGovernmenttacklingfoodinsecurityduringtheCOVID-19crisisof2020?........101.5 –IsScotland’sinterestinfoodinsecuritysharedmorewidely?...........................................................101.6 –Howdowemeasurefoodinsecurity?................................................................................................101.7 -TheworkofthePovertyandInequalityCommission..........................................................................111.8 -ThePovertyandInequalityCommissionandfoodinsecurityduringthecoronaviruscrisis...............111.9 -Whatelsedoweknowaboutfoodinsecurityduringthecoronaviruscrisisof2020?........................121.10–Whatisthepurposeofthisreport?......................................................................................................131.11–Howwastheevidencegathered?.........................................................................................................13
2.What’shappeningrightnow?..................................................................................................142.1–Whatdidweask?....................................................................................................................................142.2–Whatdidwefind?...................................................................................................................................142.3–Whatneedstohappennow?..................................................................................................................25
3.Havethingsimproved?.............................................................................................................263.1–Whatdidweask?....................................................................................................................................263.2–Whatdidwefind?...................................................................................................................................263.3–Whatneedstohappennow?..................................................................................................................31
4.Willthingsgetbetter?..............................................................................................................324.1–Whatdidweask?....................................................................................................................................324.2–Whatdidwefind?...................................................................................................................................324.3–Whatneedstohappennow?..................................................................................................................36
5.Whoisservingtheircommunity?.............................................................................................375.1–Whatdidweask?....................................................................................................................................375.2–Whatdidwefind?...................................................................................................................................375.3–Whatneedstohappennow?..................................................................................................................43
6.Howarecommunitygroupsbeingresourced?..........................................................................446.1–Whatdidweask?....................................................................................................................................446.2–Whatdidwefind?...................................................................................................................................446.3–Whatneedstohappennow?..................................................................................................................47
7.ConclusionandRecommendations..........................................................................................48Annex1:AboutThisResearch......................................................................................................52
A1.1–Introduction..........................................................................................................................................52A1.2–SurveyDesign.......................................................................................................................................52A1.3–Ethics....................................................................................................................................................53A1.4–SurveyDistribution...............................................................................................................................53A1.5–AppraisingtheSurveyPopulation........................................................................................................54A1.6–DataCleaning........................................................................................................................................55A1.7–DataAnalysis........................................................................................................................................56A1.8–Conclusion:AppraisingtheSurveyData...............................................................................................57
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 8
AcknowledgementsWearegratefultomanypeoplefortheirassistancewiththisreport.Firstandforemost,wethanktherepresentativesofthe211organisationswhotooktimetosharetheirexperiences.WealsoappreciatetheassistanceofindividualsfromthemanyorganisationsacrossScotlandfortheirassistanceinsharingandpromotingthesurveyamongsttheirnetwork.WethankthePovertyandInequalityCommissionfortheirreflectionsonthedraftsresults(sharedinavirtualmeetingoftheCommission’sCovid-19ResponseWorkingGrouponThursday28thMay),andonthedraftreport(duringtheweekstartingMonday1stJune).Inparticular,KatherineMyant,BillScottandLindsayGrahamofthePovertyandInequalityCommissionprovidedsustainedandinvaluablesupportthroughout;MicheleBarr,KatieSchmueckerandProfessorMoragTreanorofferedmanyhelpfulcommentsonthefirstdraft;andShonaStephenofferedhelpfulcommentinthemeeting.
9 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
1.FoodInsecurityinScotland1.1 –Whatisfoodinsecurity?ThisreportisframedaroundtheScottishGovernment’ssocialjusticefocus;foodinsecurityisrunningoutoffood,duetoalackofmoneyorotherresources.11.2 –Whatisthescaleoftheproblem?AlmostoneintenadultsInScotland(9%),reportthat,atsometimeoverthelastyear,theywereworriedaboutrunningoutoffood,becauseofalackofmoneyorotherresources.2Furthermore,itwasself-reportedthatthesamelackofmoneyorresources,alsoledto6%ofadultseatinglessthantheyshould,and3%ofadultsrunningoutoffood.Globally,itisestimatedthat820millionpeopleregularlygotobedhungry.31.3 –WhatistheScottishGovernment’sinterestinfoodinsecurity?ReducingfoodinsecurityisoneofthewaysinwhichtheScottishGovernmentmeasureswhetherornot“ScotlandPerforms”.4InJuly2018,foodinsecuritywasaddedtothelistof(now81)IndicatorsthatworktowardachievingtheelevenNationalOutcomesthatarepartofScotland’sNationalPerformanceFramework.5Withthestatusofanationalindicator,theScottishGovernmentiscommittedtomeasurewhetherScotlandismakingprogressintacklingfoodinsecurityand–togetherwithlocalgovernment,businesses,voluntaryorganisationsandpeoplelivinginScotland–totakeactiontomakethishappen.6FoodinsecurityisoneofsevenindicatorsthattogetherallowScotlandtoappraisewhetherprogressisbeingmadetowardtacklingpovertybysharingopportunities,wealthandpowermoreequally.71Itshouldbeacknowledgedthatthereareotherwaysofconceptualizingfood(in)security.Forausefulreviewofsomeofthekeyideas,refertoFoodSource(2018)WhatisFoodSecurity?[online].FCRNfoodsource/(viewed4June2020).Availablefrom:https://foodsource.org.uk/building-blocks/what-food-security2ScottishGovernment(2020)TheScottishHealthSurvey.2018Edition,AmendedinFebruary2020.Volume1.MainReport.[online].Edinburgh:ScottishGovernment.[viewed20May2020).Availablefrom:https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-health-survey-2018-volume-1-main-report/pages/40/.3FAO,IFAD,UNICEF,WFPandWHO.2019.TheStateofFoodSecurityandNutritionintheWorld2019.Safeguardingagainsteconomicslowdownsanddownturns.[online]Rome,FAO.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:http://www.fao.org/3/ca5162en/ca5162en.pdf.4ScottishGovernment(n.d.)NationalPerformanceFramework[online].ScottishGovernment.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://nationalperformance.gov.scot/.5Sturgeon,N.(2018)FirstMinister’sSpeech[presentation].LaunchofNationalPerformanceFramework2018.Edinburgh,July4th.Availablefrom:https://www.gov.scot/publications/launch-of-national-performance-framework-2018/(viewed30May2020).6ScottishGovernment.(n.d.)HowitWorks,NationalPerformanceFramework[online].ScottishGovernment.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://nationalperformance.gov.scot/how-it-works.7ScottishGovernment.(n.d.)Poverty,NationalOutcomes,NationalPerformanceFramework[online].ScottishGovernment.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://nationalperformance.gov.scot/national-outcomes/poverty.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 10
1.4 –HowistheScottishGovernmenttacklingfoodinsecurityduringthe
COVID-19crisisof2020?OnMarch18th2020,theScottishGovernmentannounceda£350millionpackagetosupportpeopleinneedinScotland.8Thisfundcompriseseightfundingstreams,thelargestsumofwhichwasthe£70millionthatwasallocatedtotheFoodFund.TheFoodFundcomprisesthreeelements:• £30millionofsupporttolocalauthorities,for‘structuredpublicsectorresponsesworkingwith
localresiliencepartnerships”,witheachofScotland’s32localauthoritiesreceivingfinancialsupporttotacklefoodinsecuritywithintheirdistrict.
• £30millionsetasidefornationalprogrammetodeliverfoodtotheshieldedgroup(thoseunabletoleavetheirhomeduetohighclinicalrisk)
• £10millionsetasideforinvestmentinthirdsectororganisationsthatarerespondingbothatanationalandatalocallevel.9
Supporttopromotefoodsecurityisalsoavailable,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,throughthesevenotherfundingstreams.1.5 –IsScotland’sinterestinfoodinsecuritysharedmorewidely?The193MemberStatesoftheUnitedNationsadoptedthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentinSeptember2015,10agreeingaglobalindicatorframeworkinMarch2016,betterknownasthe(17)SustainableDevelopmentGoals.11SDG2commitsMemberStatesto“endhunger,achievefoodsecurityandimprovenutrition,andpromoteagricultureby2030”,betterknownas‘ZeroHunger’.12Eighttargetsunderpinthisgoal,includingTarget2.1,whichaimsto,by2030,endhungerandensureaccessbyallpeople,inparticularthepoorandpeopleinvulnerablesituations,includinginfants,tosafe,nutritiousandsufficientfoodallyearround”.1.6 –Howdowemeasurefoodinsecurity?TheUnitedNationsusetheeight-itemFoodInsecurityExperiencesScale(FIES)tomeasuretheseverityoffoodinsecurity,whichthenpositionsthoseexperiencingfoodinsecurityonascalerangingfrommildfoodinsecuritytoseverefoodinsecurity.13Itisalsousedtoestimatetheproportionofthepopulationexperiencingmoderateorseverefoodinsecurity,whichhasbeenadoptedasSDGindicator2.1.2.FIASaskspeopledirectlyabouttheirexperienceoffoodinsecurity;
8Campbell,A.(2020)SupportingCommunitiesFunding:SpeechbyCommunitiesSecretary18March2020.[speech].AddresstotheScottishParliament.Edinburgh,March18th.Availablefrom:https://www.gov.scot/publications/supporting-communities-funding-statement/(viewed30May2020).9ScottishGovernment(2020)CoronavirusFoodFund.ScottishGovernment.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://www.gov.scot/news/coronavirus-food-fund/10UnitedNations(2015)TransformingOurWorld:the2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment.Resolution70/1.AdoptedbytheGeneralAssemblyon25September.Availablefrom:https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E(viewed30May2020).11UnitedNations(n.d.)SustainableDevelopmentGoals.UnitedNations.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/.12UnitedNations(n.d.)Goal2:ZeroHunger,SustainableDevelopmentGoals.UnitedNations.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/.13FoodandAgriculturalOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(n.d.)TheFoodInsecurityExperienceScale:MeasuringFoodinsecurityThroughPeople’sExperiences.[online].FAO:Geneva.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:http://www.fao.org/3/a-i7835e.pdf
11 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
since2014ithasbeenusedtomeasurefoodinsecurityamongtheadultpopulationinover140countries.TheScottishGovernmentusesthreeitemsfromtheFIEStomeasurefoodinsecurityinScotland,framingthequestionsoverthelasttwelvemonthsandonlyaskingthelattertwoquestions,iftheanswertothefirstquestionsaffirmsworry.Since2017,theScottishHealthSurveyhasaskedarepresentativesampleofadultsinScotlandif,duringthelast12monthswasthereatimewhen:• Youwereworriedyouwouldrunoutoffoodbecauseofalackofmoneyorotherresources?• Youatelessthanyouthoughtyoushouldbecauseofalackofmoneyorotherresources?• Yourhouseholdranoutoffoodbecauseoflackofmoneyorotherresources?ThefirstindicatorprovidesaheadlineestimateoffoodinsecurityinScotland.1.7 -TheworkofthePovertyandInequalityCommissionThePovertyandInequalityCommissionisanadvisorynon-departmentalpublicbody,whichscrutinisestheworkofScottishMinistersonpovertyandinequality.ItalsohasastatutoryremittoprovideadvicetoMinisters,commentonprogresstowardchildpovertytargets,monitorprogressinreducingpovertyandinequality,andpromotethereductionofpovertyandinequality.141.8 -ThePovertyandInequalityCommissionandfoodinsecurityduringthe
coronaviruscrisisOnthe16thofApril2020,thePovertyandInequalityCommissionpublishedabriefingontheCOVID-19crisisandtheimpactonfoodsecurity.15Thisbriefingwasbasedoncasestudyanalysisoftheexperiencesofsixorganisationsthatwereprovidingemergencyfoodsupport,andwhichwerealreadywellembeddedintheirhostcommunities.WhileapplaudingtheworkoftheScottishGovernment,localauthoritiesandthethirdsectorfortheirrapidresponsetoprovideemergencyfoodassistance,thereportidentifiedemergentissues,i.e.(i)thescaleandnatureofthecrisisischanging;(ii)organisationsareoverwhelmedbytheriseindemandfortheirhelp;(iii)thereisalackofco-ordinationofaccesstofood,resources,communicationandfunding,andmostsignificantlyinthecontextoftheirwork,(iv)thereisariseinthenumberofhouseholdswhoarefoodinsecure,and(v)povertyisexacerbatedasaresultoftheproblemsbeingexperienced.TheCommissionpresentedtwokeyrecommendations:• thattheScottishGovernmentprovidemorevisibleleadershiparoundemergencyfoodprovision
tobesurethathelpisreachingthoseworkinginlocalareasandthosepeoplewhoneedfood.• thataspokespersonisappointedtoclearlycommunicateandreassurepeopleaboutfood
provisionduringthispandemicanditsaftermath.
14PovertyandInequalityCommission(2019)WhatWeDo.PovertyandInequalityCommission.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://povertyinequality.scot/what-we-do/.15PovertyandInequalityCommission(2020)COVID-19CrisisandtheImpactonFoodSecurity.[online].PovertyandInequalityCommission.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://povertyinequality.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Poverty-and-Inequality-Commission-Food-insecurity-evidence-briefing-.pdf
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 12
1.9 -Whatelsedoweknowaboutfoodinsecurityduringthecoronaviruscrisisof2020?
Onthe29thofMay2020,theOfficeforNationalStatisticsreleaseddatafromtheCovid-19modulewithintheOpinionsandLifestyleSurveythatwascollectedbetweenMay21stand24th.16AlthoughbasedonasmallnumberofrespondentsandnotcollectingenoughdatatocommentspecificallyonScotland,itisconsideredtoberepresentativeoftheGBpopulation.Furthermore,althoughnoquestionaskedspecificallyaboutfoodsecurity,itdoescollectinformationonaccessandavailabilitytofood,andwiderkeyissuesthatarerelatedtofoodsecurity.Ofnote:• OnequarteroftheGBpopulationreportthat
o Theyexpecttheirfinancialsituationtogetworseoverthenext12months(29.9%,Table9);o Availabilityofgroceries,medicationandessentialsarebeingaffected(25.8%,Table10);o Accesstogroceries,medicationandessentialsarebeingaffected(23.7%,Table10).
• OnefifthoftheGBpopulationreportthattheirhouseholdfinancesarebeingaffected(20.%,Table10),andofthisgroup,twothirdsreportreducedincome(65.9%,Table12)andone-in-twentyreportnoincome(5.6%,Table12).
TheFoodFoundationmaintainsaCOVID-19trackertomonitortheimpactofthecoronaviruscrisisonfoodacrosstheUK.17Fourpollshavebeenadministered,thelatestevidencedrawingfromdatacollectedbetween14thand17thofMayandsharingtheexperiencesof4352adultsacrosstheUK.18:• OneintenoftheUKpopulationreportthattheyarecurrentlyfoodinsecure(9.3%),afallfrom
theGBestimateof15.6%forthefirsttwoweeksoflockdown.ThisisequivalenttoalmostfivemillionadultsacrosstheUK(4.9million).
• Morethanhalfofthosewhodescribethemselvesasfoodinsecurealsoreportthattheyhavenotreceivedanyhelp(54%,or2.6millionpeople).
TheFoodFoundation’spreliminaryreport,publishedonApril14th2020,suggestthatfoodinsecurityintheUKhasquadrupledduringtheCOVID-19lockdown,19althoughmorerecentestimatessuggesttheincreaseisnowintheorderof250%.20
16OfficeforNationalStatistics(2020)CoronavirusandthesocialimpactsonGreatBritaindata.[online].OfficeforNationalStatistics.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/datasets/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbritaindata.17FoodFoundation(2020)COVID-19Tracker:LatestImpactsonFood.[online].FoodFoundation.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://foodfoundation.org.uk/18FoodFoundation(2020)NEWFOODFOUNDATIONDATA:Foodinsecurityanddebtarethenewrealityunderlockdown.[online].FoodFoundation.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://foodfoundation.org.uk/new-food-foundation-data-food-insecurity-and-debt-are-the-new-reality-under-lockdown/19Loopstra,R.(2020)VulnerabilitytoFoodInsecuritySincetheCOVID-19Lockdown.PreliminaryReport.[online].London:King’sCollege.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://foodfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Report_COVID19FoodInsecurity-final.pdf20opcit.,Note17.
13 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
1.10–Whatisthepurposeofthisreport?Thisobjectiveofthisreportistofollow-upontheissuesraisedinthePovertyandInequality’sbriefingofApril2020(1.8).ItcanvassestheexperiencesoforganisationsworkinglocallytodeliveremergencyfoodsupportinScotlandaroundmidMay2020.WhereastheoriginalbriefingwasaCommissioninvestigationofsixkeyorganisations;thisreportisanindependentinvestigationfortheCommissionthatattemptstoestablishanation-wideunderstandingofcommunityprovisionofemergencyfoodacrossScotland.TheCommissionintendstopublishaseparatebriefing,commentingonthefindingsandrecommendationsreachedinthisreport.1.11–Howwastheevidencegathered?Theresearchwasconceived,designed,administered,analysedandreportedoveraperiodoffourweeksfrommid-MaytoearlyJune2020.211communityorganisationssharedtheirexperiencesbycompletinganonlinesurvey,whichcanvassedtheirexperienceson:• Deliveringemergencyfood“lastweek”(mid-lateMay2020)–reportedinsection2ofthisreport• Howthingshavechangedoverthelastmonth–reportedinsection3• Howthingsareexpectedtochangeoverthenextmonth–reportedinsection4.• WhatisthenatureoftheorganisationsandprovisionthatisbeingdeliveredlocallyinScotland–
reportedinsection5.• Resourcesforemergencyfood–reportedinsection6.Respondentswereencouragedtoshareadditionalinformationandcommentarythroughout.Thisreportcomprisesnationalsummariesandlocalexperiences.Althoughrapidresearch,everyopportunitywastakentocheckandcontrolforthequalityofthedata.TheresultspresentedinthisreportareweightedtobetterreflecttheScottishpopulation.Anyreferencetoadifferenceamongorganisationsisonethathasbeendeterminedusingtheappropriatestatisticaltestsandthresholds.TechnicaldetailsoftheresearcharepresentedinAnnex1.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 14
2.What’shappeningrightnow?2.1–Whatdidweask?WewantedtofindoutwhatishappeningrightnowinScotlandandsoweaskedfourquestionsaboutlastweek.“Lastweek”referstomid-May2020.First,weaskedwhatfood-relatedsupportwasprovided,askingorganisationstoidentifyalloftheservicesprovidedfromalistofsix(2.2.1andFigure2.1).Next,weaskedwhatnon-foodrelatedserviceswerebeingprovided,withalistoffiveservicesidentified(2.2.2andFigure2.2).Inthesurvey,weaskedrespondentstoevaluateonedozenaspectsoftheiremergencyfoodprovision;belowtheyarepresentedinasinglechart(2.2.2andFigure2.3).Finally,weaskedhowmuchcontacttherewasbetweentheorganisationandthelocalauthorityintheirarea(2.2.4andFigure2.4).2.2–Whatdidwefind?
FiveKeyfindings1. Systemisworking(onthewhole).Onthewhole,thevastmajorityofcommunityprovidersof
emergencyfoodarereportingthattheyaresatisfiedwiththemajorityofissuesrelatedtothatprovision.
2. Stresspoints–notmeetinglocalneed.Manycommunityprovidersareconcernedthattheyarenotmeetingtheneedsofeveryonewhoneedsemergencyfood
3. Unknowns–arewedelivering?Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportedthatthey‘didn’tknow’whetherScotlandissuccessfullydeliveringemergencyfood.Inpart,thiswasexplainedbythelackofinformation;inpartbybeingsofocusedonthelocalsituationthattheywereunabletopayattentiontothenationalpicture.
4. Wide-rangingprovisionoffoodsupportandnon-foodsupport.Almostthree-quartersofcommunityprovidersareofferingmorethanoneformofemergencyfoodsupport.Similarly,anoverwhelmingmajorityofcommunityprovidersofemergencyfoodarealsoprovidingatleastonenon-foodrelatedservicetotheircommunity.Aroundthree-quartersofcommunityorganisationsarealsosignpostingpeopletosourcesoffinancialsupportandprovidingasupport/befriendingservice
5. Contactwithlocalauthority.Two-fifthsofcommunityprovidersarereportingthattheyarehaving“alot”ofcontactwiththeirlocalauthority.
2.2.1–Whatfoodsupportisbeingprovided?Emergencyfoodprovisiontakesmanyforms.Almostthree-quartersoffrontlineorganisationsweresourcingtheirfoodfrommultiplesources(72%),with2.5sourcesbeingusedonaverage.Themostcommonformofsupportwasdistributingfoodparcelstopeopletopreparetheirownfood(Figure2.1).Ofnote,wasthatalthoughlesslikelytoreportdistributingfoodparcels,onthewhole,thoseorganisationswhosegeographicalreachwasfocusedonaneighbourhoodweremorelikelytobeprovidingawiderrangeoffoodsupport.Thus,one-half(51%)whoexclusivelyservetheirneighbourhoodprovidedthreeormorefoodservices,comparedtojustoverone-third(38%)offrontlineorganisationswhohadalocalauthoritywidereach.
15 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Figure2.1:Emergencyfood-relatedservicesprovidedbyorganisationsservingcommunitiesinScotland,mid-May2020
Notes:180organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Amongthediverserangeoffoodsupportthatwasdescribed(inadditiontothosereportedinFigure2.1)werethefollowing:• Signpostingorformalreferralstofoodbanksandothersourcesoffoodprovision• Directprovisionanddeliveryoffoodparcelsandmeals• Communitycupboards,pantriesandlarders• Cashforkids’foodvouchers• Groceryshoppinganddeliveryforisolatingorshieldinghouseholds• Communitykitchensprovidingpre-cookedmealstobefrozenandreheatedathome• Redistributionoffoodattheendofitssell-bydatefromlocalshopsandCo-ops• Supportforpeoplegrowingtheirownfood• Fundersallocatinggrantstoorganisationshelpingpeoplewithfoodparcels• Settingupaccountswithlocalshops(includingaHalalshop)forpeopletoaccessfood• Redistributionofexcessfoodfromwell-resourcedorganisationstosmallgroups• Provisionofsupplementstofoodbankstaples• Provisionofprintedrecipesforrecipientstousefoodparcelseffectively• Provisionanddeliveryofsecond-handwhitegoodssuchasfridgesandfreezers,cooking
equipmentandutensilsAlthoughthebreadthoffoodservicesprovidediscommendable,asmallnumberoforganisationsreportedsignificantoreveninsurmountableoperationalissues,whichwerecompromisingtheirabilitytodeliverafoodserviceduetothepandemicandthelockdown.Forexample,oneorganisationhadtoclosedownitsLunchClubfortheelderlyduetothehigher-riskthisgroupfaces.Anotherorganisationreportedthatitwasstaffedalmostentirelybyvolunteersovertheageof70,andthattheywereunabletooperatesafelyinthecurrentenvironment.Incasessuchasthisorganisationstendedtodeliversignpostingandreferralsupportviatelephonewherepossible.
26%
24%
24%
28%
28%
44%
76%
0% 10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
Other
Distributedvouchers/cashforpeopletobuyfood
Providedfinancialsupporttopurchasefueltoenablepeopletocooktheirownfood
Distributedhotmeals
Managedahelplinetoprovideadvice
Distributedfoodthatcanbeeatencold
Distributedfoodparcelstopeopletopreparetheirownfood
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 16
Morepositively,insharingtheirexperiences,therewasnoshortageof‘successstories’ofemergencyfoodprovisionduringthecrisis.Thefirstsharedbelowisfromanorganisation,whichhadnopreviousexperienceofemergencyfoodprovision;thesecondisanexampleofcollaborativepartnershipworkingandefficientuseofresourcesduringthecrisis.
CaseStudy1 InthespaceofaroundoneweekattheendofMarch,weconvertedourcommunityhubintoahigh-hygiene,sociallydistantworkspaceproducinganddistributingvolumesoffoodbeyondourpreviousexperienceandinawaywhichmarriedthecommercialandculinaryexpertiseofchefswiththenetworks,community-focusandsafeguardingexpertiseofthethirdsector.Weareworkingwithanalmostentirelyvolunteerworkforce.Thesepeoplearelargelychefsandcatering/hospitalitymanagerswhohavelostworkorbeenfurloughed,butalsolotsofexistingvolunteersandlocalresidents.Despitetheirownchallenges,theyaregivingtheirtimeandexpertiseinavoluntarycapacitytosupportothers.Ourcommercialsuppliershavesteppedintoprovidedonationsofequipment,space,expertiseandproducedespitethefinancialchallengesthattheyfaceinthecurrentuncertaineconomicclimate.Wearenowproducinganddistributingjustunder1000cookedmealsadaytopeopleintheEH16andEH17areasofEdinburghalongwithpacksofessentialitemsforfamiliesandpeopleself-isolating.
CaseStudy2ArdenglenisamemberofCastlemilkTogether:CommunityFoodActionandfromthe16thMarchthispre-existingcollectiveoflocalpeopleandorganisationsmobilisedandorganisedasCOVID-19becameanever-closerreality:throughanasset-basedapproachwewereabletoquicklystructurearesponsethatavoidedduplicationandfilledgapsinprovisiontoensureallfoodrelatedneedsweremet.Madeupofcommunitymembers,localhousingassociations,youthandplayorganisations,acommunityfootballclub,NHShealthimprovementstaff,cafes,churches,theseniorcentre,moneyadvice,therelaxationcentre,schools,nurseries:everyoneisplayinganequallyvaluablerolesharingskillsandresources.Thisprocesssupportsallthoselivinginthecommunitywhorequiresupportfromfamiliestoolderadults.Theprovisionofambientfoodbagsthatincludefreshproduceandfreshlypreparedcookedmealsaredistributedeachweek.Volunteersevensupportthosewhowishtopaybycarryingoutdailyshoppingforessentials.Artpacks/activitiessuchasHealthCookingKitsaredistributedalongwiththefoodparcels.Fundinghasalsobeensourcedtosupportapackageoffinancialinsecuritythatwillenableemergencygas/electopupstobesupported;andtohaveadedicatedmemberofstaffactingasawellbeingofficerwhocanprovidealisteningear,thensignposttotherelevantagencyforsupport.
Onthewhole,frontlineorganisationsappeartohavedevelopedeffective,creativeandinnovativesolutionstofoodprovisioninthecrisis.2.2.2–Whatother(non-food)supportisbeingprovided?Organisationsprovidingemergencyfoodsupportarealsoprovidingawiderangeofnon-foodrelatedsupport.Themajorityoforganisationsprovidingfoodsupportarealsoprovidingthreeormoreformsofnon-foodbasedsupport(58%).Themostcommonformsofsuchsupportreportedweresignpostingpeopletoothersourcesoffinancialsupportandbefriendingand/orcheck-upcalls(Figure2.2).
17 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Figure2.2:Non-foodservicesprovidedbyorganisationsdeliveringanemergencyfoodservicetocommunitiesinScotland,mid-May2020
Notes:169organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Somefrontlineorganisationswithabackgroundintacklingpovertyprovidedanarrowerrangeofnon-foodservices,comparedtoorganisationsthatdidnothaveabackgroundintacklingpoverty.Amuchgreaterproportionofpoverty-focusedorganisationsonlyprovidedasinglenon-foodservice(18%ofthosewithabackgroundintacklingpovertyprovidedonlyonesuchservice,comparedto3%oforganisationswhodidnothaveabackgroundintacklingpoverty).Thoseorganisationswithabackgroundintacklingpovertywerelesslikelytoreportthattheyweredeliveringprescriptions,providingbefriendingservice/check-upcalls,andsignpostingpeopletofinancialsupport.Ontheotherhand,organisationsthatwerebasedinoneofScotland’s20%MostDeprivedAreasweremorelikelytoreportprovidingphonetopupslastweek(35%,comparedto,forexample,14%ofthosewhichwerebasedinoneofScotland’s60%LeastDeprivedAreas).Thesefindingsarenotnecessarilyinconsistent.Theymaybesuggestiveofasharperfocusonthekeycrisischallengesbeingfacedbythoseexperiencingpovertyamongthosewithlonger-standingawarenessoftheproblemsthatpovertypresents.Aswithfoodservices(2.2.1),adiverserangeofadditionalactivitieswasidentified,inadditiontotheservicesthatwerereportedinFigure2.2.Somecommonthemesemerge.• Stimulatingandsupportingwell-being.Manyorganisationsarefocusedonalleviatingthe
negativementalandemotionaleffectsofthelockdown,especiallyforfamilieswithyoungchildren.Thisisdoneprimarilythroughtheprovisionofdiversionaryandeducationalactivitypacksforchildren,aswellasonlinesocialconnectivityandinclusionforadults.Someexamplesinclude;mindfulnessandsingalongclasses,cookingclasses,parentalsupportclasses,orsimplyone-to-oneorgrouppeersupportsessions.
• Physicalhealth.Otherorganisationsfocusonphysicalhealthbyprovidinghomeexercisesheets,onlineexerciseclasses,orbikeprovisionandrepairschemes.Oneorganisationreportsorganisingsociallydistancedwalksforexerciseandsocialising.Anothercommonformofnon-foodsupportisdogwalkingandotherpetsupport.
• Socialdimensionsoffoodsupport.Wealsoseeexamplesoforganisationstakinga‘joinedup’approachtotheirfoodandnon-foodsupportbyprovidinge.g.onlinecookingclassesoraccess
46%
23%
34%
43%
70%
77%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Other
Providingphonetopup
Providingelectricitytopupcards
Deliveringprescriptions
Befriending/check-upcalls
Signpostingpeopletosourcesoffinancialsupport
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 18
towhitegoods.Otherexamplesincludevolunteersbeingencouragedtochatwithresidentsastheymakedeliveriestoreducesocialisolation,orthedevelopmentofavirtual‘communitylunch’wherebypeoplereceivefoodwhichtheythenalleattogetherfromhome.
• Adviceservices.Severalorganisationsoffergeneralistorspecialistadviceonissuessuchaswelfarebenefits,debtandemploymentviatelephoneorwebchat.Manyotherorganisationsoffersignpostingorreferralstothistypeofsupport.
• Tacklingdigitalexclusion.Manyorganisationsarealsofocusedontacklingdigitalexclusionatatimewhenthismaybetheonlymethodmanyhaveofsocialinteractione.g.byofferingdigitalsupportandtrainingorviathedirectprovisionofWi-Fi,laptops,smartphonesandtablets.Severaloftheorganisationsofferingthiskindofsupportareparticularlyfocusedonchildrenwithoutinternetaccessathometoenablethemtocontinuetheirschooling.
• Generalfuelpovertysupport.Finally,manyorganisationsareofferingmoneyforfueltop-upsandmanyothersareattemptingtodevelopstrategiesoraccesstofundingthatwillallowthemtodeliverthistypeofservice.Thissuggeststhatmanyorganisationsarenoticinganincreaseinfuelpovertyandthatthisnewneediscurrentlygoingunmet.
2.2.3–Whatisworking?Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthattheycurrently:(i)haveenoughvolunteers;(ii)haveenoughfundstodeliverwork;(iii)thinkthatthereiseffectivelocalco-ordination;(iv)haveanadequatesupplyoffood;(v)arenotconcernedoverPPEequipmentforworkers/volunteers;and(vi)arenotconcernedforthephysicalhealthoftheirworkers/volunteers(Figure2.3).However,therearesomestresspoints.Only10%offrontlineprovidersareconfidentthattheyarereachingeveryoneinneedofemergencyfoodsupportintheircommunity(Figure2.3).Thevastmajoritythinkthattheyarenot(80%),withafurtheroneintenuncertain(11%).Furthermore,only15%areabletoagreethatScotlandisdeliveringwhatisrequiredthroughemergencyfood.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportthatthey‘don’tknow’(77%)(Figure2.4).Interestingdifferenceswereevidentacrossvariousaspectsof‘lastweek’s”emergencyfoodprovision.First,theconcernoverworkers’wellbeingwasexpressedmoreacutelyinurbanScotland.Moreorganisationsfromurbanlocalauthorities(LAs)reportedconcernsoverworkers’/volunteers’wellbeinglastweek(53%,comparedto30%oforganisationsfromauthoritiesthatweremainlyruralincharacter(64%inlargecities).Second,organisationswithabackgroundintacklingpovertyweremorelikelytoreportconcernsoverthesupplyoffoodandtheamountoffundsthattheyhadavailable.Forexample,concernwasexpressedabouthavingalackoffoodlastweekbyalmostoneinfive(18%)ofthoseorganisationsforwhichtacklingpovertywasalwayspartoftheirbusiness(comparedto5%ofthoseforwhomitwasnot).Theywerealsomorelikelytobeoftheopinionthatthemajorityofthepeopletheywereservingcouldnotaffordtobuyfood(76%ofthosefromwhomtacklingpovertywasalwayspartoftheirbusiness,comparedto46%ofthoseforwhomitwasnot).Thiscouldsuggestthatdifferenttypesoforganisationarereachingdifferentgroups,orthatsomeorganisationsaremoresensitivetoparticularproblemsinthecommunity.Third,organisationsthathadaneighbourhoodfocusweremorelikelytoreportconcernswithlackoffundslastweek(13%ofthoseonlyservingtheirneighbourhood,comparedto2%oforganisationswithabroadergeographicalreach).Thus,invariouswaystheexperienceofprovidingemergencyfoodwasunevenacrossdifferenttypesoffrontlineorganisation.
19 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Figure2.3:EvaluatingemergencyfoodservicestocommunitiesinScotland,mid-May2020
Notes:Thedatapresentedinthisfigurewascollectedacrossninequestionsinthesurvey.Thischartpresentsthe‘positive’responses.Theremaindercompriseseitheranegativeresponse(e.g.theremightbepeopleinmyareawhoarenotgettingemergencyfood)oraninabilitytoexpressapositiveresponse(e.g.don’tknowwhethertherearepeopleinmyareawhoarenotgettingemergencyfood),orrathernotsay,ornotapplicabletorespond).Thenumberoforganisationsrespondingtothesequestions,rangedfrom173to179(weightedsample).
Figure2.4:EvaluatingwhetheremergencyfoodservicesaredeliveringwhatisrequiredtocommunitiesinScotland,mid-May2020
Notes:Thedatapresentedinthisfigurewascollectedacrosstwoquestionsinthesurvey.ThischartcomplementsFigure2.3.Datafortheseissuesarepresentedapart,giventhehighproportionof‘non-response’options(seefootnotetoFigure2.3).Datareprovidedfor180organisations.
10%
57%
68%
68%
71%
84%
85%
88%
93%
96%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
NOTpeopleinareawhomightnotbegettingemergencyfoodtheyrequire
NOTconcernedaboutmentalwell-beingofworkers/volunteers
Themajorityoffoodbeingdistributedtopeoplewhocannotaccessit
Themajorityoffoodbeingdistributedtopeoplewhocannotaffordit
NOTconcernedaboutphysicalwell-beingofworkers/volunteers
NOTconcernedaboutPPEforworkers/volunteers
Adequatesupplyoffood
Effectivelocalco-ordinationamongorganisations
Enoughfundstodeliverwork
Enoughvolunteers/supportworkers
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
48%
15%
14%
7%
38%
78%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Emergencyfoodwasdeliveringwhatwasrequiredlocally
EmergencyfoodwasdeliveringwasScotlandrequired
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
Yes No Choosenon-response
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 20
FromthewiderangeofissuesreportedinFigure2.3,wefocusontwoingreaterdetailbelow.2.2.3a–FocusonFoodSupplyManyorganisationsshareddetailsofthevolumeofthefoodthattheyweredistributing(1,2,3),althoughsomealsoreportedthattherewasstillunmetdemand(3,4,5).ManyorganisationsarereceivingsuppliesfromFareShare,theUK-widenetworkofcharitablefoodredistributors.ThoughmanyorganisationspraiseFareShare’swork,otherreportsomeissuesintermsofthechoiceavailable(6,7,8)
1. WehaveanexcellentsysteminDundeeinwhichsomesupportcomesthroughCityCouncilsourcedfundingforfoodpurchases;someothergrantfundingandfoodprovisionpurchasedthroughFareshares;wealsofundraiselocallyandpurchasewhatelseweneedtosupplementthefoodobtainedfromelsewhere.
2. Wewereabletosupply600kgoffoodlastweek,350kgboughtwithGlasgowCityCouncilandScottishGovernmentmoney.250kgwassuppliedbyFareShare.
3. Weprovided81bagsofshoppingbutcouldhaveprovided20more.4. Icouldeasilyhavegivenoutthreetimestheamount.5. Demandalwaysexceedssupply6. Itisalwaysastruggletoensurethatallfoodgroupsarerepresentedtomeetallofthe
nutritionalneedsofpeople.DuetothenatureofFareShareitcanalsobedifficulttoensurethatthereisachoice.Yet,withoutFareSharewewouldonlybeabletoofferthemostbasicandrestrictedfoodprovisionasdistributedbyFirstBase.
7. Ourpaidsupplychainsarefairlyrobust.OurdonatedandFareSharesupplychain-tendstobe'feastthenfamine'-verylimitedlastweekandexpectedWednesdaydeliverydidnotarrive-nowMondayandnosignofgoods
8. ThefoodisfromFareShareandwhilevaluableforfamiliesinfinancialhardship,isunevenintermsofwhatyoucanprepareforafamilymeal.Someweeksarebetterthanothers.Wehavetoppeditupforfamilieswithadditionalfoodwehavepurchasedourselves.
Manyorganisationsreportedshortageswithspecificitems(1,2,3,4),orchallengesthatwerebeingencounteredinmanagingdistribution(5,6,7):
1. Coffee,sugar,toiletriesshortage2. Ourstocklevelsareimprovingaswehaveaccessedfundingtobulkbuyfoodbutthere
aresomeitemsthatweareshortofandstrugglingtosource.3. Foodsuppliesareinconsistent.4. Wearecontinuallyrunningoutofitemstomakeupfullfoodparcelsforfamilies,esp
tinnedfood(notsouporbeans),coffee,sugar,milk,rice,bread.5. …wearefindingitdifficulttogetourfoodsuppliesinsyncwithdemand.Wehave
accesstobulkbuyingbutcoordinatingthepurchase,paymentandtransportofthishastakentime.Foodismovingsoquicklyweneedtoconstantlyreplenish.
6. Yes…butneeded17tripstovarioussupermarketssothatwecouldaccesslowcostfoodtostaywithinbudgets.Theclosureofcashandcarry'stonewaccountshasseverelyimpactedvoluntaryorganisationscapacitytotakeonthisnewstreamofwork.NationalSuppliersofcateringfoodarealsofacingshortages,lastminuteshortagesmeancommunitygroupsarerunraggedtryingtoaccesssufficientquantities.
7. Yes,althoughwerelyalmostsolelyoncontinueddonationsfromFareshareandsupermarketsdirectly.Weareneedingmorefridgefreezerspace,andarehavingtorelyonthehireofacommercialrefrigeratorvan.
21 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Onerespondentpointedoutthat,whiletheservicetheyprovidedwasessential,itwasprovidingnomorethanshort-termsupportandthatdemandwasrecurrent(1,2,3):
1. Myclientsdidnothaveenoughmoneyforalltheirmostessentialcosts:food,utilities,phonecosts,Icanprovidevouchersforfoodparcels,butthislastsonly3days,andtheinadequateincomeofmyclientsusuallylastsmuchlongerthan3days.ThehelpIprovidedoesimprovethesituation,butdoesnotresolveit,asincome(whileusuallyimprovedsomewhatafterourintervention)remainsinadequatelylow,duetoextremelylowlevelofbenefits,andharshregimeofdeductionsfrombenefits.Ourclientswithfoodinsecurityissuesalmostinvariablyhavefuelpovertyissuesandeveniftheyhadalittlemorefood,iftheycan'tpayforpowertostoreit(fridge)orheatit(cooker),theirproblemspersist.
2. Whenincomefrombenefits,orfrompoorlypaidemploymentissolow,otherinterventionscanonlybetemporary,andourclients,needrepeatedassistance.
3. FindingthatIambusierthanusual.IfImanagetosupportoneofourmemberstheyoftencomebacktometoasksupportforafriend.
2.2.3b–FocusonWorker/VolunteerWellbeingThoughmostorganisationshaveeitherrecruitedmorevolunteers,adaptedtheirworkingpracticesor‘justabout’managetodelivertheirservices,manyreporteddifficulties.Theseincludethelossofvolunteersduetoshieldingandthelockdown(1,2,3)worker/volunteersicknessandturnover(4,5)andanticipationofavolunteershortageoncethefurloughschemeendsandpeoplereturntowork:(6,7).
1. CurrentCovid-19restrictionshavemeantalossofactivevolunteers.2. Ourvolunteerprogrammeissuspended,wehavesomevolunteershelpingwith
collectionsanddeliveriesandourmealsonwheelsservicebutstaffarenowundertakingvolunteerroles.
3. Welost18ofourvolunteerswhowereover70.Thelocalresilienceteamhaveprovidedpeopletohelpmeantime.
4 Justaboutalthoughlosingvolunteersaspeoplegoingbacktoworkorgettingsick.5. Thevolunteerschangeonaweeklybasisduetotheneedsoftheirjoborselfisolating.6. Forthemomentwehavemorevolunteersinourlocalareapresentingthemselvesthan
areneeded.Wecurrentlyhaveenoughstaffcapacityalthoughthismaybechallengingifneedcontinuestogrowatthecurrentrate.Thelogisticsofsecuringthefood,packingitanddeliveringitcontinuestobechallenging.Thisincludesaccessingsuitablespacetocompletethisworkwhileadheringtosocialdistancingmeasures.
7. Asbusinessesre-openitwillbemoredifficulttosecurevolunteerstodistributeessentialitems.
Severalorganisationsreportthattheyhavesafeguardsinplaceforthementalandphysicalwellbeingoftheirstaffandvolunteersandthattheseappeartobeworkingwell.Inmanycasesitisreportedthattheveryactofhelpingthoseinneedduringthecrisishasapositiveeffectonworkers’wellbeing(1,2,3,4,5,6)
1. Yesbutensuringsafesocialdistancehasresultedinfewervolunteersdoingmorework.Wecouldgetmorevolunteersbutfeelit'ssaferwithfewerinStoreroomareas.
2. Wellbeingishighonmyradarandwehaveinvestedinprovidingmentalhealthawarenesstrainingandsupporttocounselling.Wehavealsoinstigatedawellbeingdaythatstaffandvolunteerscantakeeachweekasrequiredtolookafterthemselves.Hopefullythoughthiswecanlimittheimpactthatillhealthcanhaveontheprovisionofourservice.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 22
3. …allsayithelpstheirmentalwellbeing.2VolunteershavelostparentstoCovid19duringthisperiodandhavesaidithasbeenreallyimportanttohelpthemthroughtheirgriefandloss.
4. Ibelieveourstaffandvolunteersaresupportedtosupportourcommunityandnotoverworkedduringthisperiod.Manyofourvolunteerswouldliketodomore!
5. Itisastressfultimeforall,althoughasageneralcommentIthinkthatthestaffteamarehappytobeworkingandbusyandcontributingtohelpingpeople.
6. Acoupleofvolunteershaveiteratedthattheyneedthevolunteerposttokeeptheirownmentalhealthgood.
However,mostorganisationsreportsomeconcernsregardingthephysicalhealth(1,2,3,4)and,particularly,mentalwellbeing(1-13,15)oftheirstaffandvolunteers,includingthefactthatevenwhenallpossibleprecautionsaretaken,servicedeliveryentailshigherriskofinfection(12-15):
1. Thephysicaldemandsrelatedtologisticsoffooddeliveryandtheemotionalburdenforvolunteersdeliveringfoodtovulnerablepeoplebothpresenttheirownchallenges.Thisisespeciallytrueofthedifficultsituationsfacedbyvolunteerswhendeliveringfood.Burnoutofstaffandvolunteersremainssomethingthatweneedtoguardagainst.
2. COVID-19ishavingsuchaneffectoneveryone,ourstaffarebeingpushedtothelimitsphysicallymakingup&distributingaidaswellassupportingpeoplesmentalhealth&hearingsomeofthestrugglesothersarefacingitisimportanttosupportourstaff&de-brief.
3. Weareworkingnon-stopandthisistakingit'stollontheemployeesbothmentallyandphysically.Notonlyisthedeliveryandorganisationphysicallyexhausting-weareoftendealingwithupsettingstoriesfrommembersofourcommunityandsoemotionalandmentalwell-beingisoftencompromised
4. Iamveryconcernedforeveryone'smentalhealthandphysicalwellbeing-Ithinktherewillbeasignificantincreaseinneedformentalhealthfundingpostcovid.Therewasalreadyashortfallandlongwaitinglists-anoverhaulisrequiredtocreateafairerandmoreaccessiblesupportsystemforall.
5. AsaCEOi'mconcernedthatthestaffandvolunteersareputtingthemselvesatriskeveryday.Thisinturnhasaneffectontheirdaytodaymentalwell-being.
6. …weareallworkingverylonghoursonacompletelynewservice.somevolunteershavehadtostayhomeandarenowmoreisolatedthanbefore.thosewhoarestillengagedareatriskofstress,fatigueandatriskbybeingoutoftheirhomes.
7. Itisdifficultforvolunteerstorefusehelptothosewhoneeditduetonothavingenough.8. Ourcommunityvolunteershavetakenonresponsibilities-theyhavecared-worried-
stressed-cried-sharedandcoped.Wearethenbombardedforgoodnewsstories,statisticsrequests,heartfeltbutultimatelyuselesssupportcalls-fromourlocalauthority.
9. Someofmycolleagueshaveconfirmedthattheyaresufferingfromextremelyhighlevelsofanxiety,workingfromhomeandtheITproblemsandchallengesthatbringshasbeenasignificantproblem.
10.SomevolunteersaremoreanxiouseventhoseworkinginadministrativeroleswithnoclosecontactwithotherVolunteersorclients.Increasedlevelofenquiriesandgenerallymorestressfultime.
11.Thishasbeenastressfultimeforstaffandvolunteers.Forstaffworkingfromhome,backproblemshavebeenanissue[…]Staffalsodeliveringhotsoupatasafedistancecanhearsometragicstoriesandthiscanbereallyhard.Onestaffmemberpurchasedclothesandfoodforanewbornbabythathadonly3babygrowsduetoherhusbandnothavingrecoursetopublicfunds.
23 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
12.Lastweekwasthefuneralofaworker/deliverydriverofanotherfoodserviceinourcity.Thereforeassomeonewhoallocatesdriverstodeliveries,youfeelresponsiblesendingpeopletodeliverfoodparcelsathomesthatmayhavethevirus.Wetalkeditthroughwiththevolunteersaboutbestpracticeonthedayandallwerefinewiththat,butinlifethereareno100%guarantees.
13.Westillhavealotofpublicfacingwork,andshoppingtodosotheriskofcatchingthevirusisthereandastress.also,deliveringparcelstoveryvulnerablepeoplecanbedraining.
14.…workingfromhomeisdifficultwhenthemajorityoftheworkforceisusedtoandenjoyfacetofacecommunityworkAlso,anyonegoingoutandabouttoworkonaregularbasisincreasestheriskofinfection.
15.Thesafetyandwellbeingofmyvolunteersisparamount.Wehavecontinuallybeenprovidingagoodservicetothoseinneed.Oftenthepublicaretheoneswhoaremakingthismorestressfulforus.(Notadheringtosocialdistancing,openhoursfordonations).Weareoftenhavingtoaskpeopletocomebackduringopenhoursfordonationstokeepourvolunteersandserviceuserssafeandwehavereceivedverbalabuse,aggressivebehaviour,ignoringourrequests,demandingtocomeintoourfoodbankwithoutPPE,oversteppingboundaries.Thepublicdonorsarenotmakingthestressfulsituationanyeasierandareoftencausingmorestressforus.Thishasputahugestrainonourmentalhealth.Wearetryingtofindwaystoalleviatetheseissuesbutthecurrentsituationweallfindourselvesindoesnotallowthespacetothinkorfindtimetomaketheseeasier.Theworkwedoisalsoveryphysicalandweareallexhaustedbycarryingheavyloadseveryday.Wearealsobecomingtheonlyface/personsomeonespeakstoandweareoftengivensomuchinformationaboutaserviceusersstateofmentalandphysicalhealththatwefinditdifficulttofindwaystonotworryabouttheseserviceusers.ThedeathofaserviceuserbyCOVID19hitusespeciallyhard.
2.2.4–Howmuchcontactbetweenlocalauthoritiesandcommunityorganisations?Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedthattheyareincontactwiththeirlocalauthority,althoughonlylessthanone-halfreport“alot”ofcontact(Figure2.5).Interestingly,itwasinprimarilyurbanlocalauthorities(LAs)thatalsoservearuralareathatorganisationsweremostlikelytoreportthattheyhavehada“alot”ofcontactwiththeirlocalauthorityoverthecourseofthecoronaviruscrisis(55%,comparedto31%ofcityLAsand31%ofprimarily/exclusivelyruralLAs).
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 24
Figure2.5:ContactbetweenprovidersofemergencyfoodandtheirlocalauthorityinScotland,mid-May2020
Notes:169organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Somerespondentsreportverystrongcommunicationbetweenlocalauthoritiesandcommunityorganisations(1-6),21withseveralreportingregularinvolvementwithlocalcouncillors(1,4,5),andforsome,morecontactthanusual(6).Ontheotherhand,largerorganisationsworkingacrosslocalauthoritiesreportamoremixed-picture(7,8),whileothersstillareconcernedaboutthequantity(9)andqualityofengagement(10)withtheirlocalauthority:
1 LocalCouncillorisvolunteeringoneafternoonaweektocollectthemeatfromthelocalbutchertobeincludedinthefoodbagsgivenoutbytheAnnexe.
2 GlasgowCityCouncilhavebeenaterrificsupportthroughout,signpostingindividualson&theyhaveadapteddepartmentstoensuresupportgoestothecorrectplaces&swiftly.
3 IregularlycalltheGlasgowCityCouncilshieldinglinetoregistervulnerableandshieldingpatientstobesetupforweeklyfoodparcelsfromScottishGovernment.
4 Ourlocalcouncillorhasbeenveryhelpfulandhands-on.Thecommunityresilienceteamhasprovidedawholerangeofpracticaladvice.
5 WehavehadalotofcontactwithCllrsandMSPs-somearevolunteeringwithus.6 Wehavehadmorecontactinthelastmonththanprobablythewholeofthelastyear.7 …dependsoneachLA.8 InthemaincommunicationhasbeengreatbutsomeLAshavebeenmoreontheball
thanothersaboutco-coordinatingallthedifferentgroupsandcharitiesofferinghelp.9 Niceindividualsbutnopracticalhelp.10WehavehadcontactwiththeCommunityOfficerbutnothingelse.
Afewotherorganisationsreportaninitialwillingnessanddiscussionsofcollaborativepartnershipworkingbutadvicethatthishassinceabatedorcometolittle(11-13):
11Ioriginallyhadacoupleofphonecallsfromthe‘hub’butnonesince.12Initialconversationsofcollaborativeworkingwhichcametonothing.13Initially,quitealotwithZoommeetingsbutitallseemstohavegonequietnow.
21Throughoutthereport,weuseanumberingsystemtopairoursummarycommenttothespecificevidencefromfrontlineorganisationsthatsupportsthepointwemake(italicizedtext).
None,9%
Alittle,50%
Alot,41%
25 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
2.3–Whatneedstohappennow?Althoughtheoutlookfromfrontlinecommunityorganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportisbroadlypositive,thereareissuesthatneedtobeaddressed.InApril2020,thePovertyandInequalityCommissionrecommendedthattheScottishGovernmentprovidesnationalleadershipandguidanceaboutfoodprovisionduringthispandemic.DespitetheconsiderableScottishGovernmentinvestment,only15%ofcommunityorganisationsreportinmid-May2020thattheywereawarethatemergencyfoodwasdeliveringwhatScotlandrequired.Asthisisexpertopinion,ittendstosuggestthatScotlandmightnotyetbereassuredthatitistacklingfoodinsecurityduringthecrisis.Two-fifthsoforganisationsnowhaveconcernsoverthewellbeingofworkers/volunteers,withlessthanoneinfiveanticipatingthatthiswillimproveoverthenextmonth.Takingstepstosupportthosewhoareprovidingemergencyfoodsupportshouldbeanimmediatepriority.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportconcernsthattheyarenotreachingeveryonewhoneedsfoodsupport.Itisimportanttoclarifywhetherthisreflectsspecificlimitationsintheresponsetothecoronavirus-crisis,forwhichpracticalstepscouldbetakenimmediatelytoaddress,orwhetherthisreflectsmoreenduringconcernsaboutservicedeliverytovulnerablegroups(whicharealsoimportanttoaddress,butwhichmaynotbeamenabletoimmediateactionswhichresultinpositiveoutcomes)
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 26
3.Havethingsimproved?3.1–Whatdidweask?WewantedtofindoutwhetheremergencyfoodprovisioninScotlandhadchanged,specificallyintheperiodafterthefirstPovertyandInequalityCommissionbriefingonfoodinsecuritywaspublishedinmidApril2020.22Weaskedasinglequestion,whichaskedorganisationstoevaluatewhethereachoftenaspectsofemergencyfoodprovisioninScotlandhadimproved,stayedthesame,orworsenedoverthelastmonth,i.e.sincetheEasterweekend(3.2andFigure3.2below).3.2–Whatdidwefind?
ThreeKeyfindings1. Thingshaveimproved(onthewhole).Onthewhole,overthelastmonth,therehavebeen
manysignsofimprovementwiththelocalprovisionofemergencyfood.2. Stresspoint–demandisrising.Themajorityoforganisationsreportrisingdemandfor
emergencyfoodoverthelastmonth3. Localproblemsareintenseproblems.Althoughthe‘bigpicture’ispositive,therearemany
reportsofspecificlocalproblemsthathaveemergedoverthelastmonth.Whereproblemsareshared,theyareoftenveryintenseandhighlyproblematicfororganisationsandthepeopletheyserve.
Manythingshaveimprovedoverthelastmonth(Figure3.1).Inparticular,themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthatimprovementshavebeenexperienced:(i)co-ordinationoflocalworkbylocalauthority;(ii)supplyoffood;(iii)accesstofunding;(iv)amountoffundingreceived,and(v)adviceandsupportprovidedlocally.Furthermore,inmanyinstanceswherechangeisreported,itismorelikelytobeforthebetter.Thisbestdescribestherecenttrendfor(i)numberofworkers;and(ii)accesstoPPEequipmentforworkers.Ontheotherhand,thereareafewissuesthatseemtobeemergingasconcerns.First,demandhasrisen.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthatdemandforemergencyfoodhasrisenoverthelastmonth(65%).Second,whilethemostcommonexperiencewasthatthecostoffoodhadremainedthesameoverthelastmonth(52%),asignificantminorityoffrontlineprovidersreportedthatthecostoffoodhadincreased(34%).Finally,thewell-beingofworkersisemergingasacauseforconcern.Oncemore,whiletheheadlineispositive(18%reportingthatwellbeinghadimprovedand64%reportingthatwellbeinghadstayedthesame),asizableminorityreportworseningwellbeing(18%),withsomegoingontohighlightthatthestressesonworkers/volunteerswerebuildingandreachinga‘pinchpoint’.
22PovertyandInequalityCommission(2020)COVID-19CrisisandtheImpactonFoodSecurity.[online].PovertyandInequalityCommission.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://povertyinequality.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Poverty-and-Inequality-Commission-Food-insecurity-evidence-briefing-.pdf
27 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Figure3.1:Changesinemergencyfoodprovision,asperceivedbyorganisationsprovidingacommunityserviceinScotland,mid-Apriltomid-May2020
Notes:176organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Foreachissue,respondentswereaskedtoindicatewhether‘thingshadimproved’,‘stayedthesame’or‘thingshasgotworse’overthelastmonth.Respondentsalsohadtheoptionofindicatingthattheywerenotabletoanswerthequestion(rathernotsay,don’tknow,ornotapplicable).Onthewhole,moreimprovementsoverthelastmonthwerereportedfromfrontlineorganisationsbasedinurbanareas.Higherratesofurbanimprovementwerereportedforco-ordinationwiththeirlocalauthority;adviceandsupportprovidedbylocalauthority;supplyoffood,costoffood;andaccesstoPPE.Forexample,63%ofthosebasedinurbanLAsreportedimprovementsinthesupplyoffood,comparedto46%oforganisationsfromauthoritiesthatweremainlyruralincharacter.Thisbroadpictureofrelativelygreaterurbanimprovementheightensthesignificanceofanadversetrendforworkerwellbeing.MoreorganisationsfromurbanLAsreportedthatthewellbeingoftheirworkershadworsenedoverthelastmonth(24%,comparedto7%oforganisationsfromauthoritiesthatweremainlyruralincharacter.Frontlineorganisationswhohadabackgroundintacklingpovertywerelesslikelytoreportimprovements(i.e.reductiontomoremanageablelevels)inthenumberofpeopleinneedofemergencyfoodassistanceoverthelastmonth(73%ofthosefromwhomtacklingpovertywasalwayspartoftheirbusinessreportedthatthingshadworsened,comparedto,forexample,45%ofthoseforwhomitwasnot).Neighbourhood-focusorganisations,particularlythosebasedinScotland’s20%MostDeprivedareaswerealsomorelikelytoreportimprovementsoverthelastmonthintermsofaccesstofunding,thesupplyoffoodandthecostofbuyingfood.Itisunclearwhetherthismeansthatneighbourhood
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Co-ordinationoflocalworkbyyourlocalauthority/CommunityPlanningPartnership
Supplyoffood
Accessingfundingtodeliverfood-relatedwork
Adviceandsupportprovidedbyyourlocalauthority/CommunityPlanningPartnership
Theamountoffundingthatyouhavetodeliverfood-relatedwork
AccesstoPPEforworkers/volunteers
Numberofworkers/volunteers
Wellbeingofworkers/volunteers
Costofbuyingfood
Numberofpeoplewhoareinneedofemergencyfoodassistance
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
Improved Stayedsame worsened
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 28
organisationsarenowbetterplacedthanthosewithawidergeographicalreach,orwhetheritmeansthatinitialinequitieshavebeenaddressed.Thevastmajorityofrespondentsreportincreaseddemand(1,2,3);manyreportuptoathreefoldincreaseinemergencyfoodneed.However,manyrespondentsreportthattheyhavebeenabletomeetthenewchallenge(1,4)thankstoacombinationofincreasedandflexiblefunding(4,5,6,7,8),coordinationandpartnershipworking(2,6,7,8,9,10.11),withbothlocalauthorities(6,7,10)andothercommunityorganisations(6,7,8,10,12),developinganemergencyresponsesystem(10,13)andaninfluxofdonations(3,8,11)andvolunteerswillingtohelp(2,8,11):
1 Ifeelbynowthingsarebalancingout,wearenowinaroutineofwherewearegivingdaily/weeklysupporttothosethatrequire,referralsarenowbeingdripfedin&numbersaremanageable.
2 GovanHousingAssociationhasbeenreallyluckytohavevolunteersanddedicatedstaffandpartnershipworkingtoassistineverywaywecaninGovan.Wehaveadailyfoodtruck5daysaweekindifferentlocationseveryweekwithSalvationArmyandGYIPwhoareprovidingpacklunchesforchildren.WealsohavefoodsuppliesbeingdeliveredwithfreshbreadandmilkatthecosttotheAssociationtoassistourtenantsinfinancialdifficulty.WehaveanotherpartnershipWell-fedprovidingreadymealsdailyalsowehaveprovidedover2000mealstoourlocalcommunityandtenants,deliveredfoodparcelstotheelderlyandfamilies.WehavebeenfortunatetoprovideEmergencyEnergyvouchersasfuelpovertyhasincreasedduetomorepeoplestayingathome.Wealsohavedigitallendinglibrarythishasbeenchallengingtryingtogeti-padstoresidentsandgetthemsetupbutitisimproving.IthasbeenatimefororganisationstoalljoinforcesandthishassuccessfullydoneintheGovanareatohelpandsupportthelocalcommunity.
3 Wehaveseenanincreaseindemand100moreduringApril2020comparedwithApril2019.Howeverthishasbeenmatchedbyanincreaseinfoodandcashdonations.
4 Ithinkthatatfirstitwasreallytoughtoaccessenoughfood.ThathaschangedforthebetterbutmostbecauseofGrantswereceived.
5 Thesimplifiedaccesstofundinghasworkedextremelywell.6 WorkingWell-IncrediblelocalcommunityresponseandcapacitytomobiliseFlexible
supportfromfunders,andnewfundingavailableWehavebeenimpressedathowallsectors–public,privateandthirdsectors–arecollaboratingtogetherandhowthiscrisissituationhasenabledustodevelopnewpartnerships,buildrelationshipswithnewserviceusersandhopefullyembedtheseinawaywhichissustainableandwhichhelpsstrengthenourcommunitiesasweexitthecurrentcrisis.
7 Anumberofourfundingapplicationshavebeensuccessfulwhichhasprovideduswithenoughmoneytodeliverourproject.Someofthisfundinghasbeenfromgrantprovidersandsomefromgovernmentprojects/schemes.Weseemtohaveagoodpartnershipwiththoseweworkwith,localgroupsandcouncilandaswehaveprogressedthroughtheweekstheprocesshasbecomesmoother.
8 Wereceivegreatsupportfromthecommunity[...]thishasincreasedsincetheonsetofCOVID-19.Wearealsofindingiteasiertogetfundingforourproject.People/Govareofferingfundstogetusthroughthisdifficulttime.Halfofourvolunteersarestayinghomeastheycomeintotheatriskcategories.However,because,wehavehadtochangehowwedeliverourservicetofollowthesocialdistancingguidelines,wearemanagingwellwiththenumberofvolunteerswehaveleft.Wehavemanyoffersofhelpfrompeoplewishingtovolunteer.WehaveapartnershipwithBritishGaswhoarecarryingoutsomedeliveriesfortheFoodbank,topeoplewhohavenoonetocollectthefoodandcannotleavethehouseduetoself-isolating.Therearealsoafewcompaniescomingforwardanddonatinghandgelandfacemaskswhichishelpful.Handgelwas
29 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
verydifficulttoaccessinthebeginning.Thereisalotofoverlapofemergencyfoodprovision,whichiscausingabitofconfusion,butalotofgreatworkbeingcarriedout.RenfrewshireCouncilareprovidingfoodtothoseshieldingwhichisessentialandalsohaveCommunityHubs.ThecommunityhubsareagoodideaandIthinkareanidealopportunityforgoodpartnershipworking.”
9 Whathasworkedparticularlywellhasbeentheco-ordinatedpartnershipresponseallowingforustoactquickly
10Thepartnershipbetweenourselves,DundeeCityCouncil,DVVAandthelocalprojects-startingtheweeklymeetingsinMarchhasallowedustoheartheneedsoflocalpeopledirectlyfromlocalprojects;ithasallowedtheCounciltoshapetheirresponsestofittheseneeds(asmuchastheycan);ithasensuredtherightinformationisgettingtopeoplewhoarestruggling(theSeniorManagerforCouncilAdviceServicesisinvolvedintheweeklyZoommeetingsandwehavedisseminatedinformationabouttheScottishWelfareFundandothermoneyadvicesupportthroughtheprojects-printedleafletsintofoodparcels);2.Theinvolvementofalocalbusiness-JohnAlexanderPainterandDecoratorshaveusedtheirpremises,vansandfurloughedstafftostoreanddelivertheCouncilanddonatedfoodstocktothe24projects.Theirhelphasbeeninvaluable,butwouldn'thavehappenedwithoutthecoordinationfromthestart.”
11Anumberofourvolunteershavehadtoself-isolateasinahigh-riskgroup,but[...]othervolunteersaredoingmoreshifts.WehavehadgreatsupportfromIFANoverPPE.Wehavehadmuchmorecontactwithourlocalauthoritysincelockdownthanwenormallyhave.Localcommunityhasreallyralliedsupportandfooddonationsandcashdonationshavebeenuponnormal.Grantfundinghasbeeneasiertoaccessfromanumberofextrastreamscomingonline.
12Workedwell:Coordinationbetweenthirdsector-problemsolving,jointfundingbids,resourceandknowledgesharing.Workingwithcommunityactivistsontheground.Fingeronthepulse,streetbystreetofwhatneedsare.Compassionatecommunitymovement-tryingtoprovidegoodwithdignity-maximumchoice,examplesofkindnessincludedinboxes,nicelypackaged,notutilitarian.
13Thehardworkof3-4weeksagohasbuiltlogistical,financialandcommunicationchannelsthatarereliableandunderstood.
However,wherechallengesdoexistrespondentshavefoundthemtobesignificantandpersistent.Theseproblemstendtobecentredaround:increaseddemand(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9),increasedcosts(6,10,11,12),operationalanddeliveryissues(7,8,9,12,13,14,15),andalackofsupportofferedbysomelocalauthorities(9,15,16).
1 Needhastrebled.2 Everyweekwearegettingmorenumbersduetopeopleusinguptheirsavings.3 Initialapplicationsforfundingwereestimatedonthedemandbeforetheviruswitha
slightincrease.Asanorganisationwehavefoundthatthedemandforsupportismuchhigherthananticipatedandthereforethefundinghasno[t]lastedaslongasplanned.Whenthenlookingforfundingtocontinuethisworkitismoredifficultandmorecompetitive.
4 Theamountofpeoplewhohavebeenreferredtousisincreasingeachweek.Comparedtothistimelastyearithasincreasedtenfold.Eachweekmoreandmorefamiliesarebeingreferredtous.
5 Wearenoticingthatfundingisgettingmoreandmorescarce,tighterandmorecompetitiveandsothesustainabilityofourprojectinthefutureisquestionable.Betweenthisandthereducedfooddonationswearedependingmoreonourlocalcommunitythananythingelse.Howeverwearegettingmanymorereferralscomingourwaymakingushavetorationourstocks.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 30
6 Wehavenoticedanincreaseinpricingforsomeofthefood/ingredientsthatwearebuying,especiallyaroundfruitandveg.Thenumberofpeoplewesupporteachweekhasincreasedandwearenowatcapacity.
7 Fewervolunteersarenowdelivering61%moreparcelsthanthepreviousmonth.8 Alloftheregularvolunteersarehavingtoisolateduetotheiragesothewhole
workforcehaschangedandnewstaffhavehadtostartalotoftheprocessesfromscratch,asusualsuppliersareunabletocopewiththedemandofincreasingnumberoffamiliesneedingfoodparcels.Alotmorefamiliesarestrugglingandtheircircumstanceshaven'tandwon'tchangeforalongtimesotheyneedfoodeveryweekandnotjustforafewweeksasbefore.
9 Earlyapplicationsforfundinghavemeantwehavebeeninapositiontoprovidesupportbeforethelocalauthorityputanythinginplace.Ourongoingchallengesarekeepingupwithdemand,socialdistancingspaceandreapplyingforfundingagain.Ifschoolshadbeenutilisedwewouldhavehadaccesstomorespaceandfacilities,whichwouldhavemeantahighernumberofvolunteerscouldhavebeenutilisedwithouttheneedtopurchasefreezersandfridgesforasmallhall,whichweoutgrew2weeksin.
10Duetogeographyofsomeisolatedcommunities,accesstofoodatthesamepriceasthatofurbancustomersisnon-existent.Meaningavailabilityislowerinthosecommunities,pricesarehigherandchoiceisnegligible.
11Foodcostshaverocketedwithfamiliesnervousaboutgoingfurtherafieldtopurchasecheaperoptions.Theyhavetorelyonpublictransport,whichfeelsunsafe.Oftentheyareonkeycardforpurchasingelectricity,whichisthemostexpensivewayofpayment.Inordertoreduceamountoftimesfortravelling,familiesforkoutcostoftaxionreturn.Thisisanextracost.Duetolanguageandliteracybarriersthosewiththemostneedarenotconnectedinwiththemostuptodateinfotogetsupport.”
12Communityorganisationsneedadvicenow-wehavealladaptedrapidly-weneedsupportfromfunders-communityumbrellaorganisationsandthirdsectorinterfaces,notsupportcalls-butdedicatedoffersofpracticalhelpthatwillgobeyondplatitude.Notasinglestreamoffundinghasgivenassistancewithco-ordination,volunteersaretakingthisonthemselves.
13Thenumberofvolunteerswhocangooutandabouthavefallensomeofthepeoplewhosigneduptovolunteerhavenowreturnedtowork,sonumberswillfall
14Asalocalpartnershipspearheadedbylocalpeopletheprojectwasquicklyupandrunning,supportfromagencieshasincreasedoverlastfewweeksbuthasn'tmadeanysignificantimprovementtothedelivery.[...]ThesupportsthatareinplacethroughcouncilandScottishgovernmentaren'talwaysreachingtherightpeople.e.g.wehavecontactwithsomewhoareintheshieldinggroupandwhencontactingthesecondaryfreephonenumberaregivenmorecontactsandareeventuallyreferredbacktothecommunityprojects.
15Weareinadesperatesituationwhereweneedaccesstoalocalcommunitycentretoensurewecanretainandgrowourprovisionandthecouncilhavebeenlessthanimpressivewiththisrequest.Threeweeksonandwearestillnofurtherforwardtogettingtheaccessweneed-despiteeveryoneacknowledgingwhatagreatjobtheprojectisdoingandthefactourlocalhallsmanagementcommitteehaveapprovedtheuse.
16Councilconvincedthatcommunitydidn’tneedasupplyofcookedmeals,despiteallourevidencetothecontrary.BlockingoursetupofanewkitchenCouncilhorrificattitudetocommunityvolunteers,whoaredoinganamazingjobandeasingtheburdenforcharitiesandcouncilbyshopping,signpostingetc.Lackoftrustforthepublic.OverzealousEnvironmentalHealthofficersinspectingeveryfewdays,usingtheirownguidelinesratherthanfollowingnationalonesregardingusingdonatedfood.Council
31 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
“itwilldo”attitude-supplyingmaletoiletriestowomen,familiesgivenfoodinblackbinliners.Erodingdignity.
Finally,evenwhereorganisationshavesuccessfullyadaptedtomeetincreasedandchangingdemand,manyexpressedgraveconcernsandanxietiesaboutthefuture.Muchofthisconcernwasfocusedonthesustainabilityoffunding(1,2,3,4)inacontextofpersistentlyhighdemandandothersdrainsonfinance(1,2,3,5,6),aswellastheimpacttheworkwashavingofvolunteersandworkers(4,7),andthewidercommunity(6,8).
1 Weareworriedaboutthelongertermimpactofjoblosses/unemployment-andthattherewillstillbemuchhighernumbersofpeopleneedingfoodandessentials.Willtherestillbefundingtohelpus?
2 Concernsaboutsustainingthisfinancially,aswerecognisethatthelevelofpovertyinDundeehasrisenandisunlikelytoreduceinthenearfuture.
3BiggestchallengesTheuncertaintyofknowinghowlongthecurrentrestrictionswilllast,howlongourfundinghastolast,whetherfooddonationsmightdryup,thetrajectoryofneedandthechallengeofensuringouremergencyresponseserviceisrootedinourknowledgeandexperienceofcommunityfoodsupportandinformsourtransitionbacktothatkindofsupportinfuture[...]Weoperateinanalreadysocio-economicallydeprivedarea…andmanyofourserviceusersandvolunteersexperiencedsocialisolation,foodpovertyandmentalhealthissuesalready.Thesearelikelytobeworsenedduringthelockdownandwewillneednotonlytomanagethisperiod,butalsotheaftereffectsandthetransitiontoapost-pandemicperiod.
4 …thereseemstobeahugeeffortlocallyandnationallytomeetthedemandsraised/identifiedduringthesedifficulttimes.Howcanthisbesustainableoveralongerperiodoftimeifshieldingandrestrictionsremain?Mysenseisthatlocally,folkareoverwhelmedbythegenerosityofthosegivinganddeliveringitems,attimesunsureofwherefoodboxesetchascomefromorhowlongthesecharitableactswillcontinue.
5 Allisworkingwellatthepresenthoweverwearedeeplyconcernedthatfamilieswithchildrenreceivingfreeschoolmealsmayexperienceacrisisonceschoolholidayskickin.Thiscouldputadditionalpressureonthelocalfoodbankandtheremaynotbetheresourcestorespondadequately.
6 Weenvisagepoorerphysicalandmentalhealthduetolockdown.Increasedcostsforbasicfoodingredients,utilities,insuranceetc.
7 wehaveputsupportmeasuresinplacetocircumventadeteriorationofwellbeingbutingeneralworkingfromhomeisdifficultforusasit'sveryintenseandfullon.
8 Theongoingchallengesarethatastimemarcheson,thosewhoareclassedasvulnerablearebecomingmoreandmoreisolatedduetoshielding(whichisabsolutelyneeded).Howisitaffectingtheirmentalhealthandabilityto"do"forthemselves.Foryoungcarers,theburdenplacedonthemismassive,butwhatagreatjobtheycontinuetodowithnoregardfortheirownhealthandwell-being.Iworrythattheimpactonthem,onceallthisisover,willhitthemhardastheyareholdingbackandcarryingonbecauseoftheircaringresponsibilities.
3.3–Whatneedstohappennow?Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportthatdemandhasincreasedoverthelastmonth(andthatdemandforemergencyfoodisexpectedtoincreasefurtheroverthenextmonth.Thereisaneedtobetterunderstandthedriversofthesedemands,thepopulationswhoremainvulnerable,inordertotakestepstotacklefoodinsecurityatthecurrenttime.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 32
4.Willthingsgetbetter?4.1–Whatdidweask?WewantedtofindoutwhetherorganisationswereoptimisticabouttheimmediatefutureprospectsforemergencyfoodprovisioninScotlandhadchanged,i.e.overthenextmonth.Weaskedasinglequestion,whichaskedorganisationstoevaluatewhethereachofthesametenaspectsofemergencyfoodprovisioninScotlandhadimprovedthatwereevaluatedforimprovementsoverthelastmonth(Figure3.2)willimprove,staythesame,orworsenoverthenextmonth,i.e.tomidJune2020(4.2andFigure4.2below).4.2–Whatdidwefind?
ThreeKeyfindings1. Expectingmoreofthesame.Thevastmajorityofcommunityorganisationsareexpectingno
changeforthevastmajorityofissuesrelatedtotheirprovisionoverthenextmonth.2. Changethatisnotforthebetter.Incontrasttothepositivedirectionoftraveloverthenext
month,wherechangeisanticipatedoverthenextmonth,expectationsaremorenegative,thanpositive.
3. Stresspoint–demandisexpectedtocontinuerising.Themajorityoforganisationsreportthattheyexpectthedemandforemergencyfoodtokeeprisingoverthenextmonth.
Moreofthesameisexpectedoverthenextmonth.Forallbutoneoftheelevenissuesonwhichexpectationswerecanvassed,frontlineorganisationswereanticipatingnochangeoverthenextmonth(Figure4.1).Thiscanbebothpositiveandnegative,i.e.thiscanimplycontinuedsuccessandperpetuationofproblems(section2ofthisreport).Furthermore,fundingconcernsareemerging.Althoughthemajorityoffrontlineorganisationsanticipatenochangeoverthenextmonth,asizableminorityexpectedtheamountoffundingtoreduceandaccesstofundingtoworsen.Ofparticularnotegivenwhatwasreportedoverthelastmonth(Figure3.1)isthatthevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsanticipatethatdemandforemergencyfoodwillriseoverthelastmonth.Organisationswithabackgroundinfoodprovisionweremorelikelythanthosewhodidnottoexpressconcernsoverworkingwithlocalauthoritiesoverthenextmonth.Farfewerexpectedco-ordinationwiththeirlocalauthoritytoimprove(2%,comparedtoforexample25%oforganisationsforwhomprovidingafoodservicewasnottheircorebusinesspriortothecoronaviruscrisis)andfarfewerexpectedimprovementsinadviceandsupport(0%,noneof40organisations),comparedtoforexample26%oforganisationsforwhomprovidingafoodservicewasnottheircorebusinesspriortothecoronaviruscrisis).
33 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
Figure4.1:Anticipatedchangesinemergencyfoodprovision,asperceivedbyorganisationsprovidingacommunityserviceinScotland,mid-Maytomid-June2020
Notes:176organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Foreachissue,respondentswereaskedtoindicatewhether‘thingswillimprove’,‘thingswillstaythesame’or‘thingswillworsen’overthenextmonth.Respondentsalsohadtheoptionofindicatingthattheywerenotabletoanswerthequestion(rathernotsay,don’tknow,ornotapplicable).Althoughtheoverviewsuggestsstabilityintheshortterm,frontlineorganisationsexpressedawiderangeofconcernsoverwhatliesahead.Muchofthisconcernisforthemedium-to-longterm(4,5),althoughsomeimmediateconcernswereexpressed,inrelationtotheeasingoflockdown(1,2,3).Oneorganisationwasexpectinganupsurgeindemandwhenlockdowneasesashard-to-reachdemandbecomesmorereadilyapparent(2,6);thiscontrastsandcautionstheprevailingviewthatthecoronavirushashadtheinadvertentgainofidentifyingpreviouslyunmetneed.Therewasevenasuggestionthatthingshavealreadybeguntochange,withcommitmenttoaddresstheemergencyissueswaning(7):
1. Iamconcernedaboutasecondsurgeasmeasuresarerelaxed2. Concernthatmorepeoplewithcomplexneeds-notjustfood/income,fuel/
unemployment-willbeidentifiedincludingmentalhealth,affectsoflongtermisolationandfamilyissues.Aconsiderablewaveofpeopleandfamiliesmaycomeforwardafterlockdownrestrictionsareeased-thereneedstobecapacitytorespondquicklyandaccurately.
3. Nextmonthsomevolunteerswillgobacktowork.Fundingtosupportorganisationswillhavetobereviewedandthiswillhaveanimpactonthemostvulnerable.
4. [all]stagesofcomingoutoflockdownaregoingtohavetheirownchallengesthatwemayanticipatebutwill,asalwaysbeunexpectedchallengesahead....sogoodtobepreparedforeachstage.....preparationis3/4softhejob!
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
AccesstoPPEforworkers/volunteers
Adviceandsupportprovidedbyyourlocalauthority/CommunityPlanningPartnership
Co-ordinationoflocalworkbyyourlocalauthority/CommunityPlanningPartnership
Supplyoffood
Costofbuyingfood
Numberofworkers/volunteers
Wellbeingofworkers/volunteers
Accessingfundingtodeliverfood-relatedwork
Theamountoffundingthatyouhavetodeliverfood-relatedwork
Numberofpeoplewhoareinneedofemergencyfoodassistance
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
Willimprove Staysame Willworsen
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 34
5. Iexpectonlyaslightincreaseoverthenextmonth,butsadlyinourareaweexpectasignificantincreaseindemandaspeoplelosetheirjobsinthesecondhalfoftheyear
6. Ithinkalotmorepeoplewillfeelthestrainofthecurrentsituationasnotmuchwillimproveforawhileyet.Ithinkmorepeoplewillbeidentifiedthatneedhelpaspeoplearelessrestrictedsocially.
7. Theinitialhypeandtheurgencyseemstohavepassed…thecostoffoodalreadyisgreatlyincreased,supermarketsaren’tprovidingthesameoffersandthecostoffeedingfamilieshasrisenandisn’tbeingaddresseddirectly,ourorganisationsupportsfamilieswhoarealreadybenefitdependantandtheadditionalstrainse.g.accesstofood,theadditionalcostwillbefeltmoreastheweekspass.
Theprimaryconcernswereexpressedoverthecapacitytodelivertheserviceinthelonger-term.Thispartlyreflected:anexpectationthatcurrentstaffandvolunteerswillbelost,whenareturntoworkoffurloughedstaffispossible(1,2,3);anexpectationthatdemandwillincreaseasaresultofeconomicshock(4,5,6,7),andaconcernthatexistingsupportwillstopbeforedemandfalls(8,9,10).Theseforcesmaycometogetherina(n)(im)perfectstorm(11,12,13,14)
1. Aschefswhoarefurloughedleavethismayaffectourvolunteers.Howevermanyvolunteersarecommittedlocalresidentsandvolunteersalready.
2. Asitismainlyschoolstaffwhoarenowrunningthefoodbankitwillbecomeamajorstaffingissueonceschoolsstarttoreopen.
3. Ourconcernisthatvolunteerswillbereturningtoworkandtheneedfromourcommunitywillstillbehere.
4 Oncethefurloughschemefinishes,wethinkmanypeoplewilleventuallylosetheirjobs,puttingfurtherdemandonfoodbanks,asthereisa6-weekdelaytoreceiveUniversalCredit.
5. Aspeoplecomeoutoffurloughweexpectanincreaseinunemploymentandreducedhoursofworktoadverselyaffectincomes.
6. Moreemployerswillbestrugglingwiththeirfinanceswiththelockdowncontinuing,somorepeoplewillhaveproblemsresultingfromlowerincomearisingfromlowerpayetc,foodsecurity,debts,fuelpoverty,threatofeviction,
7. Thisisatouristareawithnothingopeningandmorefamiliesgoingontouniversalcredit.Iftheseasondoesn’tstartsoontherewillbenojobsandbusinessescannotkeepstaffonfurloughindefinitely.Iamconvincedtheneedforfoodsupportandhelptopaybillsisgoingtoincreasedramaticallyinthisarea.
8. Intheweekstocome,theemergencyfoodprogramme&fundingmayceasetoexistputtingadditionalstrainonfoodbanks.
9. Weareworriedaboutfooddonationsslowingupandrelyingontryingtofreezewhatwegetnow.
10.Weexpectpressureonfamilyfinances.UnlessfoodaidassistancecontinuestobeprovidedcentrallybyCouncilandGovernmentweanticipateasignificantincreaseindemand.Unsurethatwecanexpectthelocalcommunitytocontinuetodonateatthecurrentlevel.
11.Aseconomicimpactandglobalsupplychainscometobite,Iexpectagrowingnumberoffirmsmaynotreturnandwillmakeredundancies.Inadditiontofundingforthirdsectororganisationsbecomingmoredifficulttoaccessaslocal&nationalgovernmentsreacttoaneconomictailspinasaresultofCOVID19willmeanthatwhileourserviceswillbecomeincreasingnecessary,deliverywillbedifficultduetoreductionsinfundingandsupport.
12.Attheendofthistimewewillhavelargedemandandlessresourcetofulfilthedemand.Someofourvolunteerswillbereturningtoworkandthiswillhaveaneffectonus.Needwillcontinuetogrowsteadily.Manypeoplewerestrugglingorjustaboutcopingbefore
35 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
thiscrisisandtheeffectonthepoorestinoursocietieswillbeprofoundandlasting.Wewillcontinuetodowhatwecanwithwhateverbudgetwehave,howeverthiswillbeachallenge.
13.Weexpectfundingtodryupandneedincreaseandlockdownisliftedandpeoplerealisetheydon'thavejobstobacktoinmanycases.
14.Wefeelthattherewillbeanincreasingfinancialcrisisoverthenextfewweeksasfurloughingcomestoanendandpeoplessavingsdryingup.Webelievethattheneedforfree,highqualityfoodisgoingtobeapriorityasitwilloffsettheincreasedcostsoflivingathome24/7andthedebtsthatweknowfamiliesareaccruingoncreditcardsetc.Webelievethatthefundingsupporthasbeenexcellent,withanemphasisongettingmoneyouttheretoustoenableustodotheworkwearedoing,buthaveconcernsthatitmaynotbeasforthcomingin2or3monthstimeasthefalloutfromCOVIDandthelockdownstartstohithome-i.e.mentalhealthcrisis,babyboom,childprotectionanddomesticviolenceconcerns.WeKNOWthatthecrisisisgoingtohaveahugelastingimpactthatispredictableandweshouldbegivingfundingopportunitiesnowtostartpreparingforit-i.e.moneyforadditionalstaffhourstocopewithincreasedreferralsandalsoaccesstofundsforcounsellingforfamilies.
Resourcingwasnottheonlyconcernsexpressedforthefuture.Itwasnotedexpressedthatorganisationsneedtofindnewwaysofworkingtogether(1,2),althoughthisisnotalwayspresentedasaproblem(3,4,5).Somespecificproblemswerenoted,e.g.thatthereturntoavibrantcommunitylifemaygeneratetransitionaltensionswherethereremainsaneedtocontinuetouseresourcestoprovideemergencyfood(6),andthattheremaybeashiftawayfromconcernwithbasicneedstowardeconomicissues,implyingthatitbecomesmoredifficulttoaddresstheirneedswithless/noresource(7).Someconcernswerealsoexpressedaboutthoseexploitingthecurrentsituation(andwhatliesahead)tomeettheirownends(8,9),whilesomespeculatedonrisingcostsandthewiderimplicationsthatpresentsforvulnerablegroups(10)
1. Myworryisthatafterthisisallover,thelocalauthorityandgovernmentwillslidebackintocomplacencyandthingswon'tchange.
2. Wehopebetterco-ordinationofallcommunityservicesinourareathroughthiswillresultinlong-termco-ordinatingplanningandpartnershipworking.Wewillbeaffectedbylossofincomeandhavetoconsidernewlong-termwaysofsustainingtheorganisation.
3. Workingincollaborationtherearemanyopportunitiesthatwehaveidentified.ThenewCommunityGrowingForumScotland,whichwecoordinateandincludesTheRoyalHorticulturalSociety,GreenspaceScotland,ScottishAllotmentsandGardensSociety,CentralScotlandGreenNetworkTrust,RoyalCaledonianHorticulturalSociety,SocialFarms&GardensScotland,TransitionEdinburghSouth,Trellis,Nourish,GlasgowAllotmentForumnowhasatopprioritytoworktogetheronourclimate,nature,andnowCOVID19,emergencies,howeverweneedabitoffundingtogettractionforanetworkofconnectedcommunitygrowinghubs,connectedtothegrowingnetworkoffoodhubsandexpandingbothofthese,toformaresilientresponsiveandinnovativenetworkofcommunityledfoodacrossScotland.
4 Ithinkprojectswillcontinueprovisionaslongaspossibleandwillgetbetteratdeliveringovertime.Ibelieveitwillstronglypavethewayformorepartnershipfundingandbids
5 Haveincreasedcapacitytomakehomemademealsbystarting2otherkitchensothisfreesourkitchenuptolookatmakingrecipeboxestogentlyhelppeoplecooknutritiousfoodforthemselvesiftheywantto.Thiscouldbeanexcitingopportunityaswe’vedeliveredover2000boxesallowingusaccesstomanymorevulnerablefamiliesthanbefore.Wearedeterminednottotakeanythingfurgrantedandhelppeoplehave
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 36
accesstoanycookingequipmenttheyneedbeforesendingtheboxesandfollowuptocontinuallyrefinewhatwe’redoing.Largepartnershipapplicationbidswithsocialhousingagenciescomingup.
6. Thereisthepossibilityofaclashofuseofthecommunityhubifalargescalefooddeliveryoperationcontinuesformonthwhilstrestrictionsloosenandpeoplewillwanttostartaccessingthefacilityagainifsafetodoso,forcommunityservicesandoutdoorgroups.
7. Ithinkthatwhilstthefocusatpresentisontheobviousneedthissituationhascreated,within6monthstoayearfundingforfoodprovisionwilldryupandemployability,etcwillbecomethefocusforfunding.
8.Iamalsoconcernedthatpeoplemightbetakingadvantageofthegoodnatureandareduplicatingrequestsforfoodprovisionwheretheymightnotactuallybeinneedofit,addingpressuretoalreadystretchedservices.
9. Moreofourclientsarereportingmoremalpracticebytheiremployers,duetoinappropriateimplementationoffurlough.
10.Ascertainfoodsreappearinshops..........willpricesbemuchhigher,thecostofpublictransport......moreexpensive,makingjourneysforouryoungcarersevenmoreoutofreach........costoffuelhigher............howwilltheyheathomesetc.....affordtousepersonalvehicles??
Re-iteratingpointsthatweremadeearlier(refertosection3.2),concernswerealsoexpressedforthewellbeingofworkers/volunteers(1,2,3,4),aswellasthoseinthewidercommunity(5)
1. IamconcernedaboutvolunteershavingtoreturntoworksoonandIamconcernedabouteveryone'smentalhealthon-going,especiallyamongstmycolleaguesinthecommunitywhoaredealingwiththingsatthecoalface(andmoreespeciallyinthesmallergroupswhohaverecentlysteppeduptohelpfillgapsinprovisionandarenotnecessarilyworkingwithinguidelinesorhavethesafetynetofguidanceetc
2. ratesofmentalillhealthareincreasingincludingamongvolunteersasorpotentialvolunteersastheircircumstancesgetworsee.g.runningoutofmoneyandresources.
3. IhaveconcernsasthelengthoftimecontinuesVolunteer’s,becomeunwellorburntout,4. Ourvolunteersareshowingsignsofstrainandfatigue.Weareupby300%fromlast
yearandareprovidingfoodparcelsperweekonthescalethatweprovideattheholidays.Thisisunsustainable.
5. Weareconcernedthatinparticularsingle-parenthouseholdssufferdisproportionately,affectingmanychildrenwhoalreadystruggleonmanyfronts.Thisisexacerbatedbythephaseoutofthefurloughandlackofchildcareoptionsbutalsobythehyper-vigilancethatmanyparentswillsuffer(especiallyiftheyhavesufferedabuseorothertraumabefore);wealreadyhavereportsofsomeparentsnotdaringtogooutsidetobuyfood,evenifthisispossibleandlegal,becausetheyfearcontractingCOVID19-thewholefamilythereforelivedoflentilsforamonth.
4.3–Whatneedstohappennow?Concernsarenowbeginningtoemergeoveraccesstofunding,andtheamountoffundingoverthenextmonth.Aroundonethirdareconcernedabouttheamountoffundingavailableandaccessingfunding.OnannouncingthelaunchoftheFoodFund,theScottishGovernmentcommittedtoextendingsupportifnecessary.Itisnownecessarytolookaheadtoconfirmwhethermorefundswillberequiredtoensurefoodsecurityinthemonthsahead.
37 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
5.Whoisservingtheircommunity?5.1–Whatdidweask?WeaskedfivequestionstobetterunderstandwhoisdeliveringemergencyfoodprovisionatthecommunitylevelinScotlandatthecurrenttime.First,weaskedorganisationstodescribethe‘sector’towhichtheybelonged(5.2.1andFigure5.1).Next,weaskedwhethertheorganisationshadabackgroundinprovidingfood(5.2.2andFigure5.2)andtacklingpoverty(5.2.3andFigure5.3).Finally,weaskedorganisationstodescribetheiremergencyfoodsupportintermsofitsgeographicalreach(5.2.4andFigure5.4)andpopulationreach(5.2.5andFigure5.5).5.2–Whatdidwefind?
FourKeyfindings1. Localaction.Themajorityofprovidersofemergencyfoodsupportareindependentcommunity
organisations.2. Extendingexpertise.Asignificantproportionofprovidershaveonlystartedtoprovideafood-
relatedserviceinresponsetothecoronaviruscrisis.3. Tacklingpoverty.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsunderstandthattheprovisionof
emergencyfoodisaformoftacklingpovertyinScotland.4. Broadgeographicalreachandbroadcommunityreach.Themajorityofprovidersarenot
targetingtheirworkatparticularpopulationgroupsandthegeographicalreachoforganisationsisvaried(fromneighbourhoodtoacrossthewholelocalauthorityareaandbeyond).
5.2.1–Whoisprovidingemergencyfood?Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsrespondingtooursurveydescribedthemselvesas‘independentcommunityorganisations’(Figure5.1)-awiderangeoforganisationsfromhousingassociations,faith-basedgroups,communityalliances,andmanyothers.Someoftheseorganisationswereformedindirectresponsetothecoronaviruscrisis(1),whileothershavealong-standingcommitmenttotacklefoodinsecurity(2).Somewereamixtureofboth,i.e.neworganisationsthathaverecentlyformedtoundertaketheworkthatexistingorganisationswerenotabletocontinue(3),whileothershavecontinuedtheirworkwithmorelimitedstaffresources(4).
1. Adhoccommunityorganisationputtogethertoaddressthissituationandaccessingthegovernanceofalocalcommunitycompany.
2. CastlemilkTogetherCommunityFoodActionisa4-yearlongpartnershipoflocalorganisationsandcommunitymemberswhomeetandorganiseonthetopicoffoodpoverty/insecurity.
3. IampartofthelocalCommunityCouncil.However,whenthelocalfoodbankhadtocloseduetoinappropriatevenueduringthecrisisweformedataskforcetocover
4. Ourorganisation…ismanagedbyparentvolunteers,andwhomthemselfhavechildrenwithdisabilities,mostofourstaffhasbeenfurloughtoprotectourcharitiesfuture,leavinglimitedstaffandvolunteerstocontinuetosupport168familiesthroughuncertaintimes.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 38
Figure5.1:Typeoforganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:174organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).5.2.2–Doprovidershaveabackgroundinprovidingfood?Assuggestedin5.2.1,frontlineprovidersofemergencyfoodprovisionwerealmostequallysplitbetweenthoseforwhomfoodhasalwaysbeentheircorebusiness(30%),thosethathavealwaysofferedafoodservice(31%)andthosewhowereextendingtheirworktoprovideafoodserviceduringthiscoronaviruscrisis(39%)(Figure5.2).Someofthesefrontlineorganisationsreportlong-standingexperienceintacklingfoodpoverty(1,2),whileothershavestartedtacklingfoodinsecuritymorerecently(3,4,5).Althoughsomeorganisationshaveexperienceindeliveringservicesthatarerequiredduringthecoronaviruscrisis(2,7),othersareadaptingtheirwork(4,5,6).Someexpecttoreverttocorebusinesswhenthecrisishaspassed(6),whileothersarehopingtostrengthentheirserviceasaresultofthecommunityengagementthatresultsthroughcoronavirus-relatedwork(7).
1. Wehavealwayshadseveralfoodinitiativesandwehavehadadestitutioncupboardsince2006,setupforasylumseekerswhoseHomeOfficecasehasbeenrejectedandinlateryears,forpeoplewhohavebeensanctionedorinbetweenbenefitclaims
2. Wehavealwaysprovidedemergencyfoodparcelsandusuallyrunaweeklyfreecommunitylunchaspartofourcommunityhealth&wellbeingprogramme.
3.Ourfocuswasimprovingdietandraisingawarenessofenvironmentalimpactoffood,ratherthanresponsetofoodinsecurity.However,overpasttwoyearshavefoundcan'tsolveonewithouttheother.
4. Werecentlystartedourcommunityfridgeprojecttotacklefoodpovertyinthecommunityafewweeksbeforetheoutbreak
5. WewereintheprocessofsettingupaSocialSupermarketandadaptedourmodeltoaddressthecrisis
6. SocialenterpriseatArnotdaleHouseisourpubliccafe.BeforeCOVID-19wesupportedourclientswithfoodbags.Thedistributionoffoodandfoodbagstolocalcommunitiesandpublicisnewforusandwillonlylastuntilthecafeisabletoopenagain.
Independentcommunityorganisation
60%Localgroupthatispartofregional/
nationalorganisation/charity
20%
Socialenterprise
4%
Localgovernment
4%
Privatesector1%
Other11%
39 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
7. Foodisoneofourcorepurposes(Learning,EatingandExercise),andwehaveacommunitycafe,weeklycommunitymeal,monthlyinternationalmeal,twiceweeklyvolunteerlunches,asmallfooddeliveryservicebeforethisandvariouscommunitycookingtrainingcourses.ThiswasallpartofourFoodSupportprogramme.ThishasbeenrampedupandincreasedalotasaresponsetoCovid-19.We'veonlyhadourcompletedcommunityhubforjustover2yearssoonlyrecentlyhadthefacilitiesandcapacitytoprovidethiskindofserviceandsupport.Wehopetoreferpeoplebacktothecommunityfoodservicesafterthisforlongertermengagementandsocialchange
Figure5.2:Foodexpertiseoforganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:175organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).5.2.3–Doprovidershaveabackgroundintacklingpoverty?AsFigure5.2demonstrates,themajorityoffrontlineprovidersreportedabackgroundintacklingpoverty,eitherastheircorebusiness,orinacknowledgementthattheircorebusinesshasatacklingpovertyimpact.One-infourdidnothaveabackgroundintacklingpoverty,withoneinsevenperceivingthattheywereextendingtheirworktohaveatacklingpovertyimpactduringthecrisisandoneintenperceivingthattheiractionswerenotabouttacklingpoverty.
39%
31%
30%
0% 15% 30% 45%
WearerespondingtotheCoronaviruscrisis,byextendingourworkto
providingafoodservice
Itisnotourcorebusiness,butwehavealwaysofferedafoodservice
Thishasalwaysbeenourcorebusiness
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 40
Figure5.2:Tacklingpovertyexpertiseoforganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:175organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Asforfoodprovision(5.2.2),someofthesefrontlineorganisationsreportlong-standingexperienceintacklingpoverty(1),whileothershavestartedthisworkinresponsetothecoronaviruscrisis(2).(3,4,5).Formanypovertyispartoftheproblemtheirorganisationseekstoaddress(3,4),whilesomeobservedthatthereachofpovertyisextending(5),orthattheissuesthatpeopleexperiencingpovertytypicallyencounterarenowpresentingtoabroaderdemographic(6).
1. …alleviationofpovertywasthereasonweweresetupin19472. …weareafoodbanksetupbecauseofthevirusatthebeginningofAprilaftertwo
weeksofpreparation3. Weareaboutsocialinclusionbuttacklingpovertyisintrinsictoourwork.4. Asylumseekersareaffectedbystateenforcedpoverty-theprohibitionfromaccessing
paidemployment,educationandbeenforcedtolivedon£5.00adayinunsafehouses.OurmainareaofworkisaroundAsylumseekerstoaccessingEducation,Employment,decenthousingtoimprovethequalityoftheirlives
5. AtthemomentPoverty,CoronavirusandinequalitybecomesaMentalHealthIssueforthetotalplanet.
6. Wefocusourworkonsupportingprojectsthatareaddressingmultipleissuesincludingpoverty,poorhealth.Howeverinterestingly,thoughfoodisnotexactlya'leveller'ithascausedissuesforawiderrangeofpeoplethanitnormallydoes.Sowehaveheardfromgroupsthattheywanttobroadentheirworkfromfocussingonthepeoplewhoareidentifiedashavingfinancialorhealthissues,toacommunitywideapproach,asmanytheyarehelpinghavenotbeenpreviouslyengagedandneededhelp.Forexampleelderlypeopleshielding,whoarenotinpoverty,howeverhaveclearissueswithsocialisolation.
9%
16%
41%
34%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
WearerespondingtotheCoronaviruscrisis,byextendingourworktoprovidefood.Wearenot
thinkofthisastacklingpoverty
WearerespondingtotheCoronaviruscrisis,byextendingourworktomeettheneedsofthose
livinginpoverty
Itisnotourcorebusiness,butwehavealwaysundertakenworkthathelpstackle
poverty
Thishasalwaysbeenourcorebusiness
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
41 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
5.2.4–Areprovidersservingtheirwholeneighbourhood?Frontlineorganisationsreportedarangeofgeographicalreach,rangingfromfocusedontheirneighbourhoodtothoseservingthewholeoftheirlocalauthorityandthosewithawiderreachacrossmultiplelocalauthorities(Figure5.4).Figure5.4:Geographicalrangecoveredbyorganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:178organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Whilesomeorganisationsfocustheirworkontightlydefinedcommunities(1,2),othercoverlargeexpansesofScotland(3,4).Manyexplainedthatalreadygeographicallyfocused,theyextendedtheirserviceasrequired(5,6,7),whilesomehadextendedtheirgeographicalreachduringthecoronaviruscrisis(8,9).
1. WecovertheBraes(upperandlower)areaofFalkirkCouncil2. WecoverWhitfieldinDundee3. LargegeographicalareafromtheOrdofCaithnesstoForse,Lybster.4. WerunprojectsacrossBerwickshire5. AlthoughmostlyservingGlasgowareawearenotrestrainedbythat.Wehavemembers
wider.6. OurworkisrootedintheGorbalsareaofGlasgowbutworkwithpeoplethroughout
Glasgowandbeyond.Ourschoolstransitionprogrammeworkwith4feedersecondaryschoolsand14primaryschoolsinGlasgowand2secondaryschoolsinAirdrie.
7. BecauseweworkcloselyasateameffortwithotherfoodbanksweprimarilyhaveresponsibilityforourlocalareaDD5butasappropriateweassistelsewhereasrequired
8. beforecoronawemainlyfocusedonprovidingservicewithinRosythbuthavenowexpandedtocoverSWFife
9. WeservethecommunitiesofLochalsh(7communitycouncilareas)butduringthisoutbreakwealsoextendedoursupporttoaneighbouringKyleakin&KylerheaCommunityCouncil.
12%
18%
20%
30%
21%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Other
Weserveourneighbourhood
Weserveourneighbourhoodandthetown/village/cityofwhichitispart
Weserveourtownandthesurroundingarea
Weservethewholeofourlocalauthorityarea
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 42
5.2.5–Areprovidersservingallpopulationgroups?Twothirdsoffrontlineorganisationsprovidedaservicethatwasnottargetedororientedtowardparticularpopulationgroups.Onlyone-in-tenprovidedatargetedservice(Figure5.5).Figure5.5:Populationrangecoveredbyorganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:174organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Awiderangeofpopulationsweresupportedbythefrontlineorganisationsdeliveringemergencyfood(1,2,3,7),includingsomewhoseremitwastoprovideforthoseexperiencingpovertyanddisadvantage(4,5,6,8).Asforgeographicalreach(5.2.4),manywouldextendtheirreachasrequired(6,7),whilesomewerefindingtheirserviceswerebeingutilisedbyawiderrangeofgroupsduringthecoronaviruscrisis(8).
1. Onlysupportourtenants2. [we]supportAsylumseekers,RefugeesandMigrantswithoutrecoursetopublicfunds3. Predominantlyweprovideservicesforthe50+agegroupandfamilieswithvulnerable
peoplewithintheirhousehold.4. thosewithexperienceofpoverty5. Weprimarilyservethosewithnofoodandnomoneytobuyfood.Thoseinacrisisor
thosewhofeeltheyhavenooneelsetoturntoforfood.Anywhodropinreceivefood.6. Anyoneinourareaofbenefitweserve,howeverwefocusonpeoplemost
disadvantagedbylifecircumstancesandinequalities.Throughpartnershipsandcollaborationswetargetcertaingroupslikepeoplesufferingwiththeirmentalhealth,peopleinrecovery,singleparents,NewScotsincludingSyriansresettledinthearea,elderlyandisolated,andyoungpeople(mostly16-25)andlocalfamilies.
7. Weareprimarilytheretosupporttenantsandtheirfamilies,howeverifanyoneoutsideofthatgroupshouldcontactuswewillsignposttoanotherbodyororganisationthatcansupportthem
8. Weserveallpeoplewhoarestrugglingfinancially.However,duringthiscrisis,wehavebeensupportingelderlypeoplewhoarenotstrugglingfinanciallybutwhoarestrugglingtoaccessfoodwheretheyhavenofamilysupportorarenotreceivingagovernmentfoodbox.
69%
22%
10%
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 75%
Weserveanyoneinourareawhoneedsoursupport
Weserveanyoneinourareawhoneedsoursupport,butweprimarily
meettheneedsofparticulargroupsinourcommunity
Weonlymeettheneedsofparticularpopulationgroupsinourcommunity
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
43 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
5.3–Whatneedstohappennow?Theissuescoveredinthissectionofthereportarelargelydescriptive.Inthisreport,thesignificanceoftheseissuesisprimarilyasameanstoaccountfordifferencesinhowemergencysupporthasbeenexperienced.ItwouldbeinstructivetoreflectondifferencesinhowemergencyfoodprovisionwasdeliveredinScotland.Ourevidencehighlightsvariationsingeographicalreach,populationtargeting,priorexpertiseinfood,andpriorroleinanti-povertyactivity.Furthermore,ourevidencesuggeststhattheremaybewaysinwhichthesedifferencesamongorganisationsmayberelatedtohowthisworkisbeingdelivered.Understandingandevaluatingdifferentapproachestodeliveringemergencyfoodsupportwouldbeofvaluetoinformfutureanti-povertypractice,bothinandbeyondcrisissituations.Furthermore,itwouldbeinterestingtoconsiderthelonger-termimplicationsofthetransitionalarrangementsthathavebeenintroducedbyfrontlineorganisationsduringthecoronaviruscrisis,whichhavebeendescribedintermsofextendingfocus,geographicalreachandpopulationserved.Theseimplicationsmaybebothexternal(howunderstandingoftheorganisationbyothershasshifted)andinternal(howtheseexperienceshaveimpactedonfutureworkoftheorganisation).
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 44
6.Howarecommunitygroupsbeingresourced?
6.1–Whatdidweask?Weaskedtwoquestionstobetterunderstandhowcommunityorganisationswerebeingresourced.First,weaskedasinglequestion,whichaskedorganisationstoidentifywhichsourcesoffoodtheyhadused,providingalistoftwelveoptions(6.2.1andFigure6.1).Next,weaskedorganisationstoidentifytheirsourcesoffunding,listingelevenpossiblesourcesfromwhichtochoose(6.2.2andFigure6.2).6.2–Whatdidwefind?
ThreeKeyfindings1. Complexsupplychainsandorganisationalfinancing.Onlyoneintencommunityorganisations
aresourcingtheirfoodfromasinglesource.Oneinthreecommunityorganisationsaresourcingfoodfrommorethanfiveseparatesources.Similarly,onlyoneintencommunityorganisationsarebeingfundedfromasinglesource.Onequarterofcommunityorganisationsreportthattheyarebeingsupportedbyfourormoresourcesoffunding.
2. Localsupplychains.Localsuppliersfeatureprominentlyasthesourceoffoodthatisbeingdistributed.
3. BeyondGrant-funding.AlthoughScottishGovernmentisasignificantsourceoffunding,themostcommonwaysinwhichcommunityorganisationsarebeingfundedarethroughdonations,charitablegrantsandbydrawingontheirownorganisation’sreserves.
6.2.1–SourcesoffoodMultiplesourcesoffoodarebeingsourcedbyfrontlineorganisationsduringthecoronaviruscrisis(Figure6.1).Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedsourcingfoodfromatleastfivesources(51%).Ontheotherhand,somesourcesarewidelyused:threequartersoffrontlineorganisationsreportedhavingboughtfoodfromlocalshopsandsuppliers,whilealmosttwothirdsbothhadreceivedpublicdonations,ordonationsfromlocalsupermarkets(Figure6.1).Therewereseveralinterestingdifferencesamongdifferenttypesoffrontlineorganisationintermsofhowfoodwasaccessed.First,counter-intuitively,moreorganisationsfromurbanLAsreportedreceivingdonationsfromlocalproducers(37%,comparedto20%oforganisationsfromauthoritiesthatweremainlyruralincharacter).Thistendstosuggestthatthecommunityfoodprovidersinurbanareasarecontributingtowardcrisisprovision.Second,organisationswithabackgroundintacklingpovertyweremorelikelytoreportreceivingfoodfromFaresharefood(31%,comparedto2%oforganisationsforwhomtacklingpovertywasnotafocusoftheirworkpriortothecoronaviruscrisis),butalsomorelikelytoreportthattheyhadsourcedfoodlocallyfromshops/suppliers;supermarkets;businesses;andpublicdonations.Forexample,70%oforganisationswithabackgroundintacklingpovertyreportedreceivingpublicdonations,comparedto49%oforganisationsforwhomtacklingpovertywasnotafocusoftheirworkpriortothecoronaviruscrisis).Third,interestingly,thosewithabackgroundinfoodprovisionsharedtheexperiencesof
45 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
anti-povertyorganisations,butwerealsomorelikelytoreportsourcingfoodfromlocalbusinessesandlocalproducers.Forexample,41%oforganisationswithabackgroundinfoodprovisionsourcedfoodfromlocalproducers,comparedto17%oforganisations,whichhaveextendedtheirworktoprovideafoodserviceduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Fourth,andincontrasttothosewithabackgroundinfoodprovision,thosewithaneighbourhoodfocuswerelesslikelytosourcefoodfromrestaurantsandlocalbusinesses.Forexample,only10%ofthoseonlyservingtheirneighbourhoodsourcedfoodfromrestaurants,comparedto37%oforganisationswithabroadergeographicalreach.
Figure6.1:Foodsourcesusedbyorganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:170organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Procuringfooddoesnotalwaysimplyingpurchasingfood,forexample,whenthefoodserviceprovidedisshopping.Wherefoodisbeingboughtitcanbefromusualsuppliersormaybenewsupplierswherenecessary.Orderinginbulkandreceivingfoodfromacentralsourcewerealsonoted.Notallfoodreceivediswelcomed,althoughthereevidenceofthisbeingredistributedtoavoidwaste,aswasnotedbyoneorganisationwhoreportedthat“[P]eoplehavedonatedfood,whichtheydon'twantfromGovernmentboxes)
6.2.2–SourcesoffundingTheScottishGovernmenthasprovidedsubstantialfundingthroughtheFoodFundandothersupportfunds.ItispossiblethatsomeofthefoodreceivedbyfrontlineorganisationsisultimatelyfundedbyGovernment(seeextracts1,2below)althoughattributedtosomeotherThirdPartythatispresentingthistothefrontlineorganisation:TwothirdsoffrontlineorganisationsreportedsomeformoffundingfromoneoftheFundsintroducedbytheScottishGovernmentinMarch2020toprovide£350millionofemergencysupportinScotland(67%).Figure6.2reportsthefunding
20%
12%
12%
14%
16%
24%
32%
33%
46%
51%
61%
64%
73%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Other
ShieldedpacksprovidedbyLocalAuthorityonbehalfof
OthersourcesofLocalAuthorityprovidedfood
Packs/mealsprovidedbyLocalAuthority
Weproduceourownfood
FaresharehasprovidedfoodviatheScottishGovernment
Localproducershavedonatedfood
Restaurantshavedonatedfood
Otherlocalbusinesseshavedonatedfood
Faresharehasprovidedfood
Localsupermarketshavedonatedfood
Publichasdonatedfood
Wehaveboughtfoodfromlocalshops/suppliersto
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 46
sourcesacknowledgedbyfrontlineorganisations,includingthefourScottishGovernmentfunds.Fromwhatisreported,itisclearthattheFoodFundisnottheonlyGovernmentfundingstreamthatissupportingtheworkoffrontlineorganisationsthatareprovidingafoodservice.Governmentisalsonottheonlysourceoffunding.Themajorityoforganisationshighlightedtheprevalenceofdonationsandcharitablefunding.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedreceivingdonationsfromindividualsandgrantsfromcharitableorganisations/foundations(Figure6.2).Onecauseforconcernwastheextenttowhichorganisationsreportedthattheyweredrawingonreserves.Twofifthsoffrontlineorganisationsreporteddrawingontheirownorganisationalreservestoprovideemergencyfoodsupport.Figure6.2:Fundingsourcesoforganisationsdeliveringemergencyfoodsupportincommunities,Scotland,mid-May2020
Notes:161organisationsansweredthisquestion(weightedsample).Onepointtonote(andpossiblyexplorefurther)isthequestionofusingreservestofinanceemergencyfoodprovision.Thosefrontlineorganisationswhohadabackgroundintacklingpovertyweremorelikelytoreportdrawingontheirownorganisation’sreserves(45%ofthosefromwhomtacklingpovertywasalwayspartoftheirbusiness,comparedto21%ofthoseforwhomitwasnot).Itwouldbeinstructivetoconsiderthelonger-termimpactsofthisdrawonorganisationalresources.Onaquitedifferentpoint,thoseorganisationswithabackgroundinfoodprovisionweremorelikelythanthosewhodidnottoreceivefundingthroughdonationsfromprivatesectororganisations,i.e.34%,comparedtoforexample17%oforganisationswhohaveextendedtheirworktoprovideafoodserviceduringthecoronaviruscrisis)Asnotedabove,althoughmanywereabletoidentifytheirfundingsources,notallweresureofallsourcesoffunding(1,2).Itisalsosignificantthatexistingfundswerebeingdeployedtosupportworktoaddressneedduringthecoronaviruscrisis(3,4,5),sometimesreportedasbeingusefulinenablingfrontlineorganisationstosourceadditionalresourcestomeetnewdemands(3).Cautionisalsorequired.Althoughsupporthasbeensubstantialandwouldappeartocomefrommany
6%
15%
23%
26%
27%
30%
33%
33%
35%
39%
56%
57%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Other
FoodFund(ScottishGovernment)
BigLotteryfunding
ThirdSectorResilienceFund(ScottishGovernment)
DonationsfromPrivatesectororganisations
Wehaveraisedfunds
Fundingfromlocalgovernment
SupportingCommunitiesFund(ScottishGovernment)
WellbeingFund(ScottishGovernment)
Ourownorganisation'sreserves
GrantsfromotherCharitableorganisations/Foundations
Donationsfromindividuals
PercentageoforganisationsinScotland
47 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
sources,initselfthisdiversityofsourcesmaypresentachallengeinmanagementandadministration(6,7,8),andmaybeasourceofpressureuntilsuchtimesasresourcesaresecured.Furthermore,therewassomeevidenceoffundingplacingrestrictionsonwhatfrontlineorganisationscouldachieve(9).
1. Idon'tknowwhatitcomesunderbutwehavehadfundingfromScottishgovernment,Idon'tdealwiththemoneycomingin
2. LocalgovernmentfundingcamefromtheScottishGovernmentbutIcannotrememberthenameofthatfund
3. NHSHighlandcorefundsinplacepriortoCovid-19wasaspringboardtoouraccessingotherfunding
4. Existingfundsbutothersarebeingappliedfore.g.SupportingCommunities.CommunitiesLotteryalreadyfundsourBeFriendservice
5. ExistinggrantsfromLotteryandothertrusts/foundationshavesupportedstaffsalariesandhavebeenflexibleinredeployingstafftoemergencyresponsewhereneeded.
6. TheamountoffundingwehaveshouldseeusthroughthecrisishoweverweareconcernedaboutaccesstofundingforpostCOVID19.PartlybecauseoftheprocessofhavingtogothroughourlocalTSIandpartlybecauseofknowwhichfundstoapplyforasit'sabitofaminefield.
7. Iffundingismadeavailabletothirdsectorwithoutunduebureaucracywearewellplacedtorespond
8. OurorganisationhasreceivedfundingfromtheWellbeingFundtocoversomesalarycostsduringthisperiod.However,allotherfundssecuredarefortheprovisionoffoodforthe24projects.Wesecuredfundsfrom:smallcharitabletrusts-TheNorthwoodTrust-£34,000formicro-grantsforprojects,especiallyimportantduringthefirst3-4weeksoflockdownastherewasnothingelseimmediatelyavailabledespitetherapidincreaseinfoodpoverty;TheNHSTaysideInnovationFund-£9,900topurchasefreshvegforprojects;TheAlexFerryFoundation-£5,000formicro-grantstoprojects;DundeeCityCouncil-areusing£100,000oftheFoodFundtopurchasefoodfortheprojects(£10,000perweekfor10weeks).
9. Thisfunding(scf)hasbecomeveryrestricted.Itstartedoffasverybroadbuthassincenarrowedfor'audit'purposesandbeonemoredifficulttorespondtotheindividualhardshipsourclientsface.
6.3–Whatneedstohappennow?Asignificantproportionoffrontlineorganisationsreportthattheyhavedrawnonorganisationalreservestodeliveremergencyfoodduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Thereisapressingneedtoensurethattheviabilityofthesecommunityresourcesisnotthreatened,andtoexaminethelonger-termimplicationsofanysignificantdiversionoffundingtodeliveremergencyfoodsupport.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 48
7.ConclusionandRecommendations 7.1–KeyfindingsWhatdidwefind?Onthewhole,theprovisionofemergencyfoodprovisionisreportedtobeworkingwell.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineprovidersofemergencyfoodarereportingthattheyaresatisfiedwiththemajorityofissuesrelatedtothatprovision.However,specificstresspointsarehighlightedandasenseofemergingconcernoverwhatliesaheadisalsoevident.What’shappeningrightnow?• What’sworking.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthattheycurrently:(i)have
enoughvolunteers;(ii)haveenoughfundstodeliverwork;(iii)thinkthatthereiseffectivelocalco-ordination;(iv)haveanadequatesupplyoffood;(v)arenotconcernedoverPPEequipmentforworkers/volunteers;and(vi)arenotconcernedforthephysicalhealthoftheirworkers/volunteers.
• Emergencyfoodprovisiontakesmanyforms.Three-quartersoffrontlineorganisationsweresourcingtheirfoodfrommultiplesources.Themostcommonformofsupportwasdistributingfoodparcelstopeopletopreparetheirownfood(76%).
• Organisationsprovidingemergencyfoodsupportarealsoprovidingawiderangeofnon-foodrelatedsupport.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsprovidingemergencyfoodwerealsoprovidingthreeormoreformsofnon-foodbasedsupport.Themostcommonformsofsuchsupportweresignpostingpeopletoothersourcesoffinancialsupport(77%)andbefriendingand/orcheck-upcalls(70%).
• Notreachingeveryoneinneed.Fouroutofeveryfivefrontlineprovidersareconcernedthattheyarenotreachingeveryoneinneedofemergencyfoodsupport(80%).Afurtheroneintenreportthattheydonotknowwhethertheyarereachingeveryoneinneed(11%).
• UnsurewhetherScotlandisdelivering.Only15%opinedthatScotlandissuccessfullydeliveringemergencyfood.Thevastmajorityreportthatthey‘don’tknow’(77%).
• Contactwithlocalauthority.Thevastmajorityreportthattheyareincontactwiththeirlocalauthority(91%),twofifths(41%)report“alot”ofcontact.
HavethingsImproved?• Manythingshaveimprovedoverthelastmonth.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreport
thatimprovementshavebeenexperienced:(i)co-ordinationbylocalworkbylocalauthority;(ii)supplyoffood;(iii)accesstofunding;(iv)amountoffunding,and(v)adviceandsupportprovidedlocally.
• Largelystayingthesame,butwherethereischange,itismorelikelytobeforthebetter.Thisbestdescribestherecenttrendfor(i)numberofworkers;and(ii)accesstoPPEequipmentforworkers.
• Demandhasrisen.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportthatdemandforemergencyfoodhasrisenoverthelastmonth(65%).
• Costofbuyingfood.Whilethemostcommonexperiencewasthatthecostoffoodhadremainedthesameoverthelastmonth(52%),asignificantminorityoffrontlineprovidersreportedthatthecostoffoodhadincreased(34%).
49 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
• Wellbeingofworkers/volunteers.Theheadlineispositive(18%reportingthatwellbeinghadimprovedand64%reportingthatwellbeinghadstayedthesame).However,asizableminorityoforganisationsreportthatwellbeingisworsening(18%),andsomedescribedthestressesonworkers/volunteerswerebuildingandreachinga‘pinchpoint’.
Willthingsgetbetter?• Moreofthesame.Nochangewasthemostcommonresponse;fortenoftheelevenissueson
whichexpectationsoverthenextmonthwerecanvassed,themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsexpectednothingtochange.
• Fundingconcernsareemerging.Althoughthemajorityoffrontlineorganisationsanticipatenochangeoverthenextmonth,asizableminorityexpectedtheamountoffundingtoreduce(33%)andaccesstofundingtoworsen(30%).
• Risingdemand.Thevastmajorityoffrontlineorganisationsanticipatethatdemandforemergencyfoodwillriseoverthelastmonth(73%).
Whoisservingtheircommunity?• Independentcommunityorganisations.Althoughadiversegroupoforganisationsreportedthat
theywereprovidingemergencyfoodsupport,60%ofthemcouldbedescribedas‘independentcommunityorganisations’.
• Diversebackgroundsinfoodprovision.Frontlineprovidersofemergencyfoodprovisionwerealmostequallysplitbetweenthoseforwhomfoodhasalwaysbeentheircorebusiness(30%),thosethathavealwaysofferedafoodservice(31%)andthosewhowereextendingtheirworktoprovideafoodserviceduringthiscoronaviruscrisis(39%).
• Backgroundintacklingpoverty.Themajorityoffrontlineprovidersreportedabackgroundintacklingpoverty,eitherastheircorebusiness(34%),orinacknowledgementthattheircorebusinesshasatacklingpovertyimpact(41%).One-infourdidnothaveabackgroundintacklingpoverty,withoneinsevenperceivingthattheywereextendingtheirworktohaveatacklingpovertyimpactduringthecrisis(16%)andoneintenperceivingthattheiractionswerenotabouttacklingpoverty(9%).
• Diverserangeofgeographies.Frontlineorganisationsreportedarangeofgeographicalreach,rangingfromfocusedontheirneighbourhood(18%)tothoseservingthewholeoftheirlocalauthority(21%)andthosewithawiderreachacrossmultiplelocalauthorities.
• Servingeveryone.Twothirdsoffrontlineorganisationsprovidedaservicethatwasnottargetedororientedtowardparticularpopulationgroups(69%).Onlyone-in-tenprovidedaservicethatwastargetedataparticularpopulationgroup(10%).
Howarecommunitygroupsbeingresourced?• ScottishGovernmentfunding.Twothirdsoffrontlineorganisations(67%)respondingtothe
surveyreportedsomeformoffundingfromoneoftheFundsintroducedbytheScottishGovernmentinMarch2020toprovide£350millionofemergencysupportinScotland.
• Prevalenceofdonationsandcharitablefunding.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedreceivingdonationsfromindividuals(57%)andgrantsfromcharitableorganisations/foundations(56%).
• Drawingonreserves.Twofifthsoffrontlineorganisationsreporteddrawingontheirownorganisationalreservestoprovideemergencyfoodsupport(39%).
• Diverserangeoffoodsupplies.Themajorityoffrontlineorganisationsreportedsourcingfoodfromatleastfivesources(51%).Threequartersoffrontlineorganisationsreportedhavingboughtfoodfromlocalshopsandsuppliers(73%),whilealmosttwothirdshadreceivedpublicdonations(64%)ordonationsfromlocalsupermarkets(61%).
• Faresharesupply.MorethanonehalfofthefrontlineorganisationsrespondingtothesurveyreportedreceivingfoodtodistributefromFareshare(53%).
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 50
7.2–Recommendations
1. ProvideNationalReassurance.InApril2020,thePovertyandInequalityCommissionrecommendedthattheScottishGovernmentprovidesnationalleadershipandguidanceaboutfoodprovisionduringthispandemic.DespitetheconsiderableScottishGovernmentinvestment,only15%ofcommunityorganisationsreportinmid-May2020thattheywereawarethatemergencyfoodwasdeliveringwhatScotlandrequired.ThisexpertopiniontendstosuggestthatScotlandmightnotyetbereassuredthatitistacklingfoodinsecurityduringthecrisis.
2. Supportingworker/volunteerwellbeing.Two-fifthsoforganisationsnowhaveconcernsover
thewellbeingofworkers/volunteers(43%),withlessthanoneinfiveofallorganisationsanticipatingthatthiswillimproveoverthenextmonth(16%).Takingstepstosupportthosewhoareprovidingemergencyfoodsupportshouldbeanimmediatepriority.
3. Understandingandmeetingrisingdemand.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportthat
demandhasincreasedoverthelastmonth(65%)andthatdemandforemergencyfoodisexpectedtoincreasefurtheroverthenextmonth(72%).Thereisaneedtobetterunderstandthedriversofthesedemands,thepopulationswhoremainvulnerable,inordertotakestepstotacklefoodinsecurityatthecurrenttime.
4. Impactofreturntoworkafterfurlough.Thereareconcernsthattherisingstressreported
amongtheemergencyfoodworkforceandtherisingdemandforemergencyfoodwillcoincidewithalossoflabourassomeworkersreturntothelabourmarketattheendoffurlough.ThereisaneedtoensurethatemergencyfoodcancontinuetodeliverwhatisrequiredasScotlandmovesoutoflockdown.
5. Understandinghowtoreachunmetneed.Thevastmajorityoforganisationsreportconcerns
thattheyarenotreachingeveryonewhoneedsfoodsupport(80%thinktheyarenotandafurther10%areunsure).Weneedtofindoutmoreaboutpotentiallevelofunmetneedanddevelopstrategiestoextendhelp.
6. Actiononfunding.Concernsarenowbeginningtoemergeoveraccesstofunding,andthe
amountoffundingoverthenextmonth.Aroundonethirdareconcernedabouttheamountoffundingavailable(33%)andaccessingfunding(30%).OnannouncingthelaunchoftheFoodFund,theScottishGovernmentcommittedtoextendingsupportifnecessary.ItisnownecessarytolookaheadtobeyondtheendofJunetoconfirmwhethermorefundswillberequiredtoensurefoodsecurityinthemonthsahead.
7. Resilienceoffrontlineorganisations.Asignificantproportionoffrontlineorganisationsreport
thattheyhavedrawnonorganisationalreservestodeliveremergencyfoodduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Thereisapressingneedtoensurethattheviabilityofthesecommunityresourcesisnotthreatened,andtoexaminethelonger-termimplicationsofanysignificantdiversionoffundingtodeliveremergencyfoodsupport.Intheshort-term,theimmediateconcernistoensurethattheseorganisationshavesufficientresourcetocontinuetodeliveremergencyfoodsupport,particularlythosethattypicallyexperienceanincreasedemandfortheirservicesoverthesummerperiod(suchasorganisations‘substituting’forthelossoffreeschoolmealsovertheholidayperiod).
51 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
8. Utilisationofpublicbuildingsandcommunityresources.Althoughtherewasevidenceofresponsiveadaptationtomeetdemand,someconcernswereexpressedovertheuseofpublicbuildings,kitchensandothercommunityresources.Somereflectionisrequiredtoensurethatsuchlocalresourcescanbemobilisedeffectivelytotackleanyfuturenationalemergency.
9. Exploringqualitativedifferencesacrossfrontlineorganisations.Inthelonger-term,itwouldbe
instructivetoreflectondifferencesinhowemergencyfoodprovisionwasdeliveredinScotland.Ourevidencehighlightsvariationsingeographicalreach,populationtargeting,priorexpertiseinfood,andpriorroleinanti-povertyactivity.Furthermore,ourevidencesuggeststhattheremaybewaysinwhichthesedifferencesamongorganisationsmayberelatedtohowthisworkisbeingdelivered.Understandingandevaluatingdifferentapproachestodeliveringemergencyfoodsupportwouldbeofvaluetoinformfutureanti-povertypractice,bothinandbeyondcrisis.
10. Transformativeandcollaborativepractice.Someconcernwasexpressedthatsomeofthebest
practicethathasemergedduringthisperiodmaybelostinafuturethat‘returnstonormal’.Itisrecommendedthatevaluationofemergencyfoodprovisionreflectscloselyonlessonsthatmightbelearnedforfuturepracticeinpubicserviceprovisionandanti-povertyaction.
11. Whatpeoplewithlivedexperienceofpovertythink.Theobjectiveofthisworkwastobetter
understandtheexperienceoffrontlineorganisations.Moregenerally,thePovertyandInequalityCommission,andScotland’santi-povertysector,iscommittedto‘givingvoice’tothelivedexperienceofpoverty.Therearebothimmediateandlonger-termissuestoconsider.OfimmediateconcernistheneedtolearnfromthewiderangeofstudiesinScotlandandbeyondwhich,althoughnotfocusedonfood,areprovidinginsightintofoodinsecuritythroughsharingthelivedexperienceofpovertyduringthecoronaviruscrisis.Inthelongerterm,itwouldbeusefultoengagethosewithlivedexperienceofpovertytobetterunderstandtheimpactofreceivingemergencyfoodsupportduringthiscoronaviruscrisis.
12. Acknowledgetheworkoffrontlineorganisations.Itisreadilyapparentthatcommunity
organisationsarefirmlycommittedtotheirwork,takeprideinwhattheydo,andreporthowtheyaremakingapositivedifferenceintheircommunities.Thecontributionsoffrontlinecommunityorganisationsshouldcontinuetobeacknowledgedbyallwithresponsibilityformanaginglocalandnationalresponsetothecoronaviruscrisis.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 52
Annex1:AboutThisResearchA1.1–IntroductionInthisannex,wedescribeandappraisehowtheonlinesurveywasadministered.Itisnotafulltechnicalreport;rather,onlythekeyinformationispresentedtoassistreaderstobetterunderstandtheresearch,andtoreachjudgementonitsstrengthsandlimitations.Furthertechnicaldetailsaboutthesurveyresearchcanbeprovidedonrequest.A1.2–SurveyDesignProfessorMcKendrickoftheScottishPovertyandInequalityResearchUnit(SPIRU)designedthesurvey,withthesupportofthePovertyandInequalityCommission(hereafterCommission).Softcopyofthesurveycanbeprovidedonrequest.Thefinalsurveycomprised35questions.Twoofthequestionswereinrelationtoethicalprinciplesofinformedconsent(Q1andQ2)andfourofthequestionswereinrelationreceivingresults(Q32–Q33)andthepossibilityofgettinginvolvedinfollow-onresearch(Q34–Q25).Twoquestionsconcernedsurveyadministration(roleofrespondentinorganisation(Q4)andhowsurveywasreceived(Q5).Fourquestionscollectedbackgroundinformationabouttheorganisation,i.e.nameoforganisation(Q3),sectortowhichorganisationbelongs(Q20),localauthorityinwhichorganisationoperates(Q24),andpostcodeoforganisationalbase(Q26).Eachoftheremaining21questionsexaminedasubstantiveissueonemergencyfoodprovisionincommunitiesacrossScotland.Thesurveywasstructuredintofivesections,findingsforeachofwhicharesharedinaseparateversionofthisreport.Questionwordingandresponseoptionsweredevelopediteratively,intheweekpriortothesurveyopening.FollowinganinitialbriefingatwhichthekeythemesofinteresttotheCommissionwereoutlined,ProfessorMcKendrickdraftedasurvey.Thiswasrevisedintwostages.First,aseriesofrevisionsweremadefollowingCommissionreview.Second,thesurveywaspilotedwitharepresentativefromeachofthesixorganisationsthathadbeinvolvedinresearchfortheCommission’searlierbriefing.23Thesurveyprogressedthroughseveraliterationsbeforeitwasjudgedreadyfordistribution.Thesurveytools(questionsandanswers)andintroductorytextwerewhoapprovedbytheCommissionpriortolaunch.Theonlinesurveyplatform,Surveymonkey.com,wasusedtomanagethesurvey.Thiswasaplatformthatwasfamiliartotheresearchteamandwhichprovidedthefullfunctionalityrequiredtoadministeraneffectiveonlinesurveyinanethicalmanner.Surveydesignisalwaysacompromisebetweenfunctionalityandcoverage.Toincludequestionsonallissuesofinterestwouldhavemadethesurveyunwieldyandmayhavecompromisedsurvey23PovertyandInequalityCommission(2020)COVID-19CrisisandtheImpactonFoodSecurity.[online].PovertyandInequalityCommission.(viewed30May2020).Availablefrom:https://povertyinequality.scot/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Poverty-and-Inequality-Commission-Food-insecurity-evidence-briefing-.pdf
53 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
completions.AlthoughitmayhavebeeninterestingtocanvassopiniononotherissuespertainingtoemergencyfoodprovisioninScotland,onbalance,thefinalsurveyensuredthatopinionwascanvassedonthemostimportantissueswithoutaskingtoomuchofrespondents.Thequestionsinthesurveywerefully-functional.A1.3–EthicsTheEthicsCommitteeoftheDepartmentofSocialSciencesatGlasgowCaledonianUniversityapprovedthesurvey.Ateachstageoftheresearchdesignandadministration,stepsweretakentoensurethattheresearchadheredtorecommendedpracticeforonlinesurveys.Specificstepstakenincluded:• Providingrespondentswithdetailedinformationaboutthepurposeoftheresearchandthe
researchrequirements,toensurethatparticipationwasbasedoninformedconsent.• DisablingthefunctionthatallowsIPaddressestobecollectedforonlinesurveys.• Offeringopt-outandadditionaloptionsforeverysurveyquestion,e.g.rathernotsay,don’t
knowor‘Other’.• Onlycollectingpersonaldetails(namesandcontactdetails)ofrespondentswhowantmore
informationabouttheresearch,andstoringthisinlinewithGeneralDataProtectionRequirements.
• Storingresearchdatasecurely,forexample,password-protectingdatafiles.• Removingpersonaldetails(namesandcontactdetails)fromdatafilesandstoringinlinewith
GeneralDataProtectionRequirements.• Ensuringthatnorespondentsareidentifiedbynameinthepublishedreportarisingfromthe
research.• Offeringrespondentstheopportunitytoreceivecopiesofthesurveyresults.• Offeringrespondentstheopportunitytobecomemorefullyinvolvedintheresearch.A1.4–SurveyDistributionThesurveywaslaunchedonFriday15thMay2020,initiallywithatargetenddateofFriday22ndMay2020.Asthesurveycoincidedwithaholidayweekend,andgiventheobservationofsomethattheshort-timeframemaymakeitdifficultforsomeorganisationstofindtimetocompletethesurvey,thedeadlinewasextendedtoTuesday26thMay2020.Itisacknowledgedthatonlinesurveyshavedisadvantages,comparedtotheapproachtakeninthosesocialsurveysthataimtogenerateofficialstatistics.Inparticular,onlinesurveysarenotequallyaccessibletothetotalpopulation.Ofnote:• Thesurveyislessaccessible(inaccessible)tothosewhoseEnglishlanguageskillsarelesswell
developed.• Thesurveyislessaccessible(inaccessible)tothosewhodonothavepersonalaccesstoonline
computingandpersonale-mails.• Thosewithstrongeropinionsoncommunityprovisionofemergencyfoodmayhavebeenmore
highlymotivatedtocompletethesurvey.Furthermore,thelimitedtimeframeinwhichthisparticularonlinesurveywaslive,whentakentogetherwiththeprimarymechanismfordistributionthroughumbrellaorganisations,shouldbeacknowledgedasfactorsthatmayhaveshapedwhoresponded.
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 54
TobroadenthereachofthesurveyacrossScotland,theprimaryapproachtakenwastoe-mailmember-basedorganisationstopromotethesurveyamongtheirnetwork.TheinvitationtoparticipationwasmadeonFriday15thMay.SuggestedtextforFacebook,Twitterande-mailwasprovidedtoreducetheadministrativeburdenonorganisations• TheThirdSectorInterfacesineachofScotland’s32localauthorityareas.• CommunityDevelopmentAllianceScotland;CommunityFoodandHealth(Scotland);Community
TransportAssociation;DisabilityEqualityScotland;FAREShare;FAREShareCentralandSEScotland;FAREShareGlasgowandtheWestofScotland;FAREShareGrampian;FAREShareTayside&Fife;GlasgowandWestofScotlandForumofHousing;GlasgowDisabilityAlliance;IndependentFoodAidNetwork;LotteryFund;NourishScotland;PovertyAlliance;ScottishCommunityDevelopmentCentre;SCVO;SocialEnterpriseScotland;TrussellTrust;VoluntaryHealthScotland;andVolunteerScotland
Someorganisationsrespondedtoconfirmthattheywereableandwillingtopromotethesurveyamongtheirnetwork.However,informationwasnotcollectedonhowmanyofthese67member-basedorganisationsraisedawarenessofthesurveyamongmembers.Thecorestrategyfordistributingthesurveywassupplementedinvariousways:• SomeCommissionersprovideddetailsofspecificorganisationsthatwewererecommendedto
contact• Somerespondentsaskediftheycouldpassondetailsofthesurveytootherorganisations,which
weencouraged• Initialanalysisidentified23organisationsthathadlefttheirname,butnotcompletedtheonline
survey.Wewereabletofinde-mailaddressesfor12oftheseorganisationsandcontactedthemonThursday21stMaytoadvisethemthattheystillhadanopportunitytocompletethesurveyiftheyweresominded.
• Wealsoidentified19localauthoritiesthathadfewerthanfivereturnsbyThursday21stMay.Althoughalowerreturnistobeexpectedforsmallerlocalauthorityareas,wemadecontactonThursday21stMaywiththeTSIsineachofthesedistrictstoaskiftheywouldbeabletooffer(further)encouragementtomemberstocomplete.
• WesendanemailtoallotherorganisationsonFriday22ndMaytothankthemfortheirsupport,andtoadvisethemthatthesurveywouldcloseonTuesday26thMay;providingthemwithan
ThenextsectionreportsontheextenttowhichthesurveypopulationisrepresentativeoforganisationsprovidingemergencyfoodinScotland.A1.5–AppraisingtheSurveyPopulationNosingledatabaselistingthenumberandnatureoforganisationsprovidingemergencyfoodsupportinScotlandduringthecoronaviruscrisiswasavailabletotheresearchers.ItcannotbeassertedthatthissurveyisrepresentativeofthelandscapeinScotlandasawhole.Itisconceivablethateitheracensus,oracommunity/populationprojectionbasedongeographicalsize,numberofsettlements,totalpopulation,populationexpectedtobeinneedofemergencyassistance,number/natureoforganisationsinreceiptofScottishGovernmentemergencysupportfunding,number/natureofcommunityorganisationscouldbemodelledgenerateafairestimateoftheorganisationalbaseforScotland’semergencyfooddelivery.However,theresourceswerenotavailabletoattemptsuchanundertaking.Therefore,thereisaneedtobecautiouswhenpresentingfindingsfromthissurvey.Ontheotherhand,itissignificanttonotethat:
55 LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis
• ResponseswerereturnedfromeachofScotland’s32localauthorityareas.• 211surveyswerecompletedSufficientdatawerereturnedtoexplorevariationsinresponsesacrossorganisations,accordingto:
o Typeoforganisationo Whetherornotfromurban/rurallocalauthorityareao Whetherornotorganisationwasbasedinanurban/ruralareao Whetherornotorganisationwasbasedinanareaofmultipledeprivationo WhetherresponseswerequalitativelydifferentfromtheothersandArgyllandBute(19),
Glasgow(33)andtheScottishBorders(35),threeareasforwhichresponseratesweremuchhigherthanelsewhereinScotland.
Inthereport,dataarepresentedwithoutconfidencelevels.Thisissolelyforthepurposeofeaseofdatainterpretation.ItisnotassertednorimpliedthatthepercentagefigurespresentedarehighlyaccurateestimatesofcurrentprovisionacrossScotland.Rather,itiscontendedthat–giventhestepstakentoimprovegeneralisability–theevidencecanbepresentedasbroadlyrepresentativeofprovisionacrossScotlandatthepointofsurveyadministration.A1.6–DataCleaningDatawerecleanedinfourstages,priortodataanalysis.Apre-cautionaryprinciplewasapplied;changeswerenotmadetotheoriginalresponsesiftherewassignificantdoubtovermeaning.Intheseinstances,datawererecordedasmissing.First,errantcodeswerecorrected.Theuseoftheonlinesurveytooleradicatederrorsthatwereassociatedwithdataentry,andquestionroutingensuredthatrespondentsonlyansweredquestionsthatwererelevanttothem(e.g.onlyaskingcurrentemployeestoindicatethesectorinwhichtheyworked).However,foridentifyingtheorganisationalbaseoftheorganisation,respondentswereaskedtoprovidethefullpostcode.Thereweretwotypesoferrorinthewaythatsurveyrespondentsrecordedtheirpostcode,i.e.anextraspacewasinsertedbetweencomponentparts,ornospacewasinsertedbetweentheoutwardcode(postcodedistrict,comprisingbetweentwoandfourcharacters,e.g.EH1,EH21)andtheinwardcode(postcodesector,i.e.thelastthreecharactersofthepostcode).Severaleditsweremadetothepostcodes.Thiswasnecessaryasthefullpostcode,properlyconstituted,wasusedtoidentifythedatazonetowhichthepostcodebelonged,whichinturnallowedustoidentifyScottishIndexofMultipleDeprivation(SIMD)rankingsfortheorganisationalbase.TheScottishGovernment’sonlinepostcodeconvertertoolwasusedtoconvertpostcodestodatazonesandassociatedSIMDrankings(ScottishGovernment,2020).Second,datawereappraisedtoidentifyanyinconsistencieswithinthedata.Forexample,someofthemultipleresponsequestionsofferedtheoptionof‘don’tknow’inadditiontothelistedansweroptions.‘Don’tknow’wasincludedasaresponseoptiontocapturetheopinionsofrespondentswhowereunabletoofferanopiniontothequestion.However,inaverylimitednumberofcases,somerespondentsindicated‘don’tknow’inadditiontoselectinglistedoptions.Itisreasonabletodeducethattherespondentpositivelyidentifiedrelevantanswers,butthenselected‘don’tknow’toindicateuncertaintyoverwhethertherewereanyadditionalrelevantanswers.Inthisinstance,don’tknowwasde-selectedtogiveconfidencethatremaining‘don’tknow’optionsindicatedonlythosewhowereunabletoanswerthewholequestion.Third,manyquestionsofferedtheopportunityforrespondentstoselect‘Other’andthentodescribetheirresponse.Thiswasimportantsoasnottoconstrainrespondentstoprovidea
LocalactioninScotlandtoTackleFoodInsecurityDuringtheCoronavirusCrisis 56
responsewithwhichtheydidnotagree.However,inalimitednumberofcasessomeofthe‘Other’optionsdescribedoneofthefixed-responseoptions.Intheseinstances,‘Other’wasde-selectedandthelistedanswerwasselectedinstead.Finally,toenablecountstobeautomaticallygeneratedformultipleresponseanswers,i.e.tospecifysourcesoffood(Q29)andsourcesoffunding(Q30),systemmissingresponsewereconvertedtozeroswheretherespondenthadansweredthequestion,buthadnotselectedthatparticularoption.Thejudgementwasmadethatwherenoresponsesweregiventoanyoftheoptions,therespondenthadmissedthewholequestion,ratherthanchosennottoselectanyoftheoptions.Countingtheseasmissingavoidedinflatingnegativeresponses.A1.7–DataAnalysisDataanalysiswaspursuedsystematicallythroughfivestages,followingdatacleaning.First,frequencycountsweregeneratedforeachissue.Headlinefindingswereoftengeneratedfromthesefrequencycounts.Second,responsedistributionsforeachvariablewereappraisedtoidentifywhetheritwasusefultogeneratedifferentvariationsofthesame.Newvariantsofexistingvariableswerecreatedtofacilitatefurtherdataanalysisiftherewassubstantivesignificanceinthenewvariableandsufficientresponsesforthenewresponseoptionstoprovidefunctionalityforsubsequentanalysis.Forexample,thequestionon‘howmanyofthepeoplewhoreceivedfoodfromyourorganisationlastweekwereexperiencingdifficultyaccessingfood’(Q9)wasreducedfromfiveoptions(‘allofthem’,‘themajorityofthem’,‘abouthalfofthem’,‘aminorityofthem’‘and‘noneofthem’)totwooptions(‘‘themajorityofthem’,and‘abouthalfofthemofless’)tofacilitatecross-tabulations(toascertainwhetheranyapparentdifferencesarestatisticallysignificant).Third,newvariablesweregeneratedfromtheoriginalvariables.Forexample,thequestiononPPEequipment(Q11)wasusedtocreatefourseparatemeasures,i.e.(i)oneonwhetherornotconcernedoverthequalityofequipment;(ii)oneonwhetherornotconcernedoverthelackofequipment;(iii)oneonwhetherornotconcernedoverboththelackandqualityofequipment;and(iv)oneonwhetherornottheyhadanyconcernsoverPPEequipment.Fourth,exploratorybivariatedataanalysiswaspursuedtoexplorewhethertheremightbeanysignificantvariationsacrossthepopulation(asnotedinA1.6).Appropriatetestsofcorrelation(forordinaldata)orassociation(fornominaldata)wereusedtoidentifywhetheranydifferenceswerestatisticallysignificant,withthestandardthresholdof95%significancedeployedastheindicationofthis.Ingeneral,differenceswereexploredforeachsubstantiveissuebyexaminingvariationacrossorganisations’urban/ruralstatus,geographicalreach,approachtopopulationtargeting,whetherbasedinoneofScotland’s20%MostDeprivedAreas,whetherorganisationhadabackgroundintacklingpoverty,andwhetherorganisationhadabackgroundinprovidingfood.Inthisreport,foreaseofreading,wereportthefindingsasdescriptiveresults(usingtestsofassociationfornominaldata).Wherethereportingofordinaldatahavebeensimplifiedinthismanner,readersshouldbeassuredthatthereportedfindingwasalsoupheldwithcorrelationdataanalysis.
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A1.8–Conclusion:AppraisingtheSurveyDataOnlinesurveysarenotunproblematicandthesamedegreeofconfidenceinfindingscannotbeattributedtoonlinesurveys,comparedtosocialsurveysadministeredusingmoreconventionalsurveytechniques.Ontheotherhand,thissurveyofemergencyfoodprovisioninScotland,achieved:• Alargenumberofresponses• Asufficientnumberofsurveyreturnstoexploredifferencesamongsub-populations• Returnsfromeachofthe32localauthorityareasacrossScotland.Theapproachtakenthroughoutthereportistodescribethenationwideexperienceforeachissue.Withoutlosingsightofmajorityopinion,differencesarethenexplored.Referenceisonlymadetostatisticallyandsubstantivelysignificantdifferencesinthisreport.