Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the work of the BCP Access to Food Partnership.  There is much to celebrate in what the partnership has so far achieved, and local community partners are demonstrably helping families to build more food resilience.  However, the challenge is growing – although the BCP area has some outstanding food support, Sheffield University research suggests people seriously struggle to afford food in BCP, which attracted negative local press coverage.   In addition, rising food and fuel prices combined with changes in universal credit going into the winter will mean more residents are likely to struggle with access to food.  Therefore, the Board are asked to redouble their efforts to collaborate on communicating key messages around finding help within and across all statutory partners, and to invest in the continuation of the partnership beyond March 2022.

The Board considered a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book which provided an update on the work of the Access to Food Partnership. This was also accompanied by a presentation.

The Board was informed that there was much to celebrate in what the partnership had so far achieved, and how local community partners were helping families to build more food resilience.  However, the challenge was growing – although the BCP area had some outstanding food support, Sheffield University research suggested people seriously struggle to afford food in BCP, which has attracted negative local press coverage.   In addition, rising food and fuel prices combined with changes in universal credit going into the winter would mean more residents were likely to struggle with access to food.  Therefore, the Board was asked to redouble its efforts to collaborate on communicating key messages around finding help within and across all statutory partners, and to invest in the continuation of the partnership beyond March 2022.

The Chief Operations Officer, BCP Council highlighted the need for the members of the Board to challenge their role as leaders in this field and for organisations represented to consider what commitment can be provided going forward to achieve resilience.  The Board was advised of the longer-term aims and the financial implications including matched funding to move the partnership on to a more sustainable footing.

Alistair Doxat-Purser, the Chair of the Access to Food Partnership explained that this was a significant balancing act in having access to food and for people to be able to cook. In particular he highlighted the need for key messages to be communicated and for this work to be recognised as core business.

Tim Goodson, who was taking the Chair, explained that the organisations represented had good communication networks.

Kate Ryan, Chief Operations Officer, reported that she would act as a conduit in respect of the submission of dedicated representatives to be part of the Access to Food Partnership and lead on the food insecurity agenda within their organisations.  It was suggested that these representatives should be submitted within a month.

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health emphasised the need to ensure that actions were followed through.  He also referred to the Integrated Care System and that the food insecurity agenda should put forward as a priority.

RESOLVED that

(a)  Board members consider how they can help to support the longer-term sustainability of the Access to Food partnership beyond March 2022.

(b)  Board members identify how their partner organisations are able to help communicate key messages and share information to help residents more easily identify and ask for relevant support if they are struggling with food insecurity.

(c)  Board members identify a dedicated representative from their organisation to be part of the Access to Food partnership and lead on the food insecurity agenda within their organisations.

(d)  Board members allocate a future  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22