Glasgow

A key part of Feeding Britain’s strategy for addressing the social and economic consequences of COVID-19 is the development of affordable food provision at the heart of each community.

Affordable Food Clubs in this area include:

• The Good Food Scotland larder network in Kennishead, Toryglen, Sandyhills, Cardonald and Linthouse.
• The Threehills Community Supermarket in Nitshill 
• The Govan Pantry

Threehills Community Supermarket

Based in the South West of the city and developed with Good Food Scotland, Threehills Citizens’ Supermarket aims to reduce the financial pressure on households who are struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table.

Our Glasgow Citizens’ Supermarket will include a shopping area, a community café and an advice hub. It will provide immediate financial relief for households on low incomes, by improving their access to affordable, nutritious food, while addressing some of the underlying issues which may have left them vulnerable to hunger. Named ‘Threehills’, the facility will serve the people of Priesthill, Nitshill and Househillwood as well as the Greater Pollok area.

We aim to provide choice in shopping for food by supplying subsidised food in a normal supermarket environment, re-purpose high quality supplies which would have otherwise been sent to landfill and ease people out of poverty with dignity and respect, preventing the need to access the services of a food bank.

Govan HELP pantry

Feeding Britain supported the establishment of the Govan HELP food pantry with funding to increase the supply of food and purchase refrigeration equipment. The pantry allows local residents to shop for 10 items of food for a flat fee of £2.50 on a weekly basis.

Drumoyne Community Council

Feeding Britain supported a packed lunch scheme administered by the Ridgeway Dairy, an initiative backed by Drumoyne Community Council. Ridgeway launched a free of charge lunch scheme when lockdown restrictions were imposed, with packs including a fresh sandwich, fruit, yoghurt and snacks.

Distribution of the lunches increased from just under 300 units in April to over 1,500 in June. An additional Feeding Britain contribution was made to extend the service throughout the summer and autumn half term holidays, providing a further 1,370 lunch packs for local children.

Govan Youth Information Project (GYIP)

Feeding Britain supported the Govan Youth Information Project with funding for a food programme supporting families in Govan and Ibrox throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Funds were used to provide 3,000 packed lunches alongside art and craft packs.

Funding was also allocated to sustain a work placement for a young person at risk of unemployment. The role involved the collection and distribution of food bags, capturing data, and managing online social media and services for GYIP. The placement also provided employability training covering topics including building rapport and resolving conflict.

Feeding Britain provided further support for GYIP’s Govan Loves Christmas project. With Covid-19 restrictions preventing the usual Santa’s Grotto and trip to the pantomime, the team distributed selection boxes and small toys to young people and families on Christmas Day.

• 5.30% of adults suffered from hunger
• 15.17% struggled to access food
• 8.40% worried about not having enough food

About this research:

The University of Sheffield have published statistics of UK adult food insecurity at Local Authority scale. You can view the map of measures of food insecurity here.

Hungry is defined as having skipped food for a whole day or more in the previous month or indicated they were hungry but not eaten because they could not afford or get access to food.

Struggle is defined as a positive response to at least one of the following:

• Sought help accessing food
• Skipped or shrank meal
• Gave a reason for not having enough food

Worry is defined as choosing very worried or fairly worried about getting food.