Research outputs

Tackling food insecurity through different models of local support

This briefing is for stakeholders involved or interested in the provision of food at a local level. We draw out early findings on local level community food provision, highlighting examples from Bradford and Tower Hamlets, London.

To build a detailed picture of the community food support system, we carried out a survey of organisations, systems mapping workshops with staff and service users and interviews with stakeholders. Data were collected in Bradford and Tower Hamlets between July 2023 and April 2024.

Our research highlighted the scale and diversity of the sector; different ways to alleviate, reduce or prevent food insecurity; and challenges and uncertainties in the sector.

Our recommendations offer short term strategies, including coordinating provision across local authorities and supporting community food organisations to identify and address people’s underlying needs. Our long-term recommendations include reform of the social security system and focusing on ‘cash first’ approaches.