Groups pull together on food poverty

Kirsteen Sullivan visited the Polbeth Community Hub recently to see the work being carried out first hand.

She said: “There is evidence at both national and local level that there’s a rise in hunger and food insecurity, which both result from an increase in poverty.

“Of course, not everyone that attends local initiatives experiences poverty but some do struggle and it’s important to provide support when it is needed.

“Projects can help deliver a variety of services and ensure everyone has the opportunity and confidence to access a healthy diet for themselves and their families.

“Commu n i t y food initiatives have a positive and important role to play in protecting and restoring people’s sense of dignity, and it is really inspiring to see how the work at venues like the Polbeth Community Hub are helping local people access healthy, nutritious food in dignified ways.”

Polbeth Community Hub manager Errin Anderson said: “The HUB was created to support the local community to bring about social change and empower local citizens to improve the quality of life within the local area.

“We provide a number of services, such as a community fridge and shop, access to free sanitary products along with an advisor who can help families claim benefit entitlement, support them with budgeting and help with debt.”

In June this year, West Lothian Council and NHS Lothian produced their first Local Child Poverty Action Plan and now partners are looking to work together to develop a plan to tackle food insecurity and create community food hubs.

The council is now investing a further £150,000 of funding to help reduce food insecurity locally, create a local food network and work with the third sector to move from crisis intervention to longer term intervention.

Councillor Andrew McGuire, who chairs the West Lothian Anti-Poverty Task Force Group, said: “It can be a very complex issue but it’s something we are committed to tackling.

“Many of the levers for reducing poverty lie with the Scottish Government and UK Government but the council is not sitting back and we have a range of services which are supporting households that need some extra help.

“We aim to build upon the work with our partners locally and there’s a willingness to share resources, form better networks, reduce waste and make projects to tackle food poverty more sustainably.”