As part of the Trust’s plans to research the local impact of the Government’s welfare reforms and changes to the benefits system, Bill Sargant Trust (BST) commissioned a study of the work of food banks across Hampshire (including Southampton and Portsmouth) in October 2014. The research was undertaken by Julian Dobson from Urban Pollinators and Rachel Papworth from Papworth Research and Consultancy Ltd.
Food banks are rapidly becoming part of the landscape of crisis support in communities across Britain. In 2014-15 the Trussell Trust, Britain’s main provider of emergency food aid, gave out enough food parcels to help more than one million people. Hampshire, despite containing some of the UK’s most affluent areas, has also experienced a remarkable rise in food bank provision and use.
Food banks are not confined to deprived areas. There are now at least 20 food banks or similar projects in Hampshire, including in some of the wealthiest parts of the county. They cover rural and urban locations, with a mix of projects affiliated to the Trussell Trust and independent schemes.
A seminar held on Wednesday 22 July 2015 in Winchester, where attendees heard from Julian and Rachel on the key findings and issues identified by the research. The seminar was attended by over 80 representatives from food banks, housing associations, voluntary organizations and officers and members from councils across Hampshire.
Click on the links below to view the full report and summary report from the event.
