local action in scotland to tackle food insecurity during ... · 5 local action in scotland to...

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%).


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.


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


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.


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


AcknowledgementsWearegratefultomanypeoplefortheirassistancewiththisreport.Firstandforemost,wethanktherepresentativesofthe211organisationswhotooktimetosharetheirexperiences.WealsoappreciatetheassistanceofindividualsfromthemanyorganisationsacrossScotlandfortheirassistanceinsharingandpromotingthesurveyamongsttheirnetwork.WethankthePovertyandInequalityCommissionfortheirreflectionsonthedraftsresults(sharedinavirtualmeetingoftheCommission’sCovid-19ResponseWorkingGrouponThursday28thMay),andonthedraftreport(duringtheweekstartingMonday1stJune).Inparticular,KatherineMyant,BillScottandLindsayGrahamofthePovertyandInequalityCommissionprovidedsustainedandinvaluablesupportthroughout;MicheleBarr,KatieSchmueckerandProfessorMoragTreanorofferedmanyhelpfulcommentsonthefirstdraft;andShonaStephenofferedhelpfulcommentinthemeeting.


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.


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


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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).


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



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.


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


48%

15%

14%

7%

38%

78%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Emergencyfoodwasdeliveringwhatwasrequiredlocally

EmergencyfoodwasdeliveringwasScotlandrequired


Yes No Choosenon-response


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.


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.


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.


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).


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%


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)


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


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

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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


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.


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


“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.


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).


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!

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Wellbeingofworkers/volunteers

Accessingfundingtodeliverfood-relatedwork

Theamountoffundingthatyouhavetodeliverfood-relatedwork

Numberofpeoplewhoareinneedofemergencyfoodassistance


Willimprove Staysame Willworsen


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


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


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.


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.


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%


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



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



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



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



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).


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


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



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



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.


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%).


• 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%).


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).


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.


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


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.


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:


• 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


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.


A1.8–Conclusion:AppraisingtheSurveyDataOnlinesurveysarenotunproblematicandthesamedegreeofconfidenceinfindingscannotbeattributedtoonlinesurveys,comparedtosocialsurveysadministeredusingmoreconventionalsurveytechniques.Ontheotherhand,thissurveyofemergencyfoodprovisioninScotland,achieved:• Alargenumberofresponses• Asufficientnumberofsurveyreturnstoexploredifferencesamongsub-populations• Returnsfromeachofthe32localauthorityareasacrossScotland.Theapproachtakenthroughoutthereportistodescribethenationwideexperienceforeachissue.Withoutlosingsightofmajorityopinion,differencesarethenexplored.Referenceisonlymadetostatisticallyandsubstantivelysignificantdifferencesinthisreport.

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