After 15 months of investigation – here’s how Northampton Borough Council can help end food poverty

That is just a small sample of ideas that have been put forward to tackle hunger in the area following a 15-month long investigation by a Northampton Borough Council committee.

The authority’s food poverty panel has examined the impact and how widespread the issue is throughout the town, and hopes the recommendations it brings forward can help tackle the problem.

Councillor Dennis Meredith, the chairman of the panel, said he believed there were areas throughout the town where food poverty existed but is not being addressed. Speaking at the committee’s latest meeting on September 24, he said: “There are gaps where food banks could be set up. The borough council should explore where all the gaps are where food poverty exists, and then food banks could then be encouraged to be put in place.”

Such an investigation is just one small recommendation among several being put forward by the panel to the council’s cabinet, with the hope they are acted upon by the Conservative administration.

Most, however, will likely have to be acted upon by the new West Northamptonshire Council – with the new unitary authority replacing the borough council in April next year.

Further actions they are recommended to take include promoting breastfeeding, encouraging allotment holders and shops to give away excess produce as emergency food aid, and urging the new unitary council to become an accredited Living Wage employer.

They have also urged the promotion of Healthy Start vouchers and want the uptake of the scheme improved locally. The vouchers allow pregnant mothers, or parents who have children under the age of four, to get vouchers for fresh food and vegetables if they also claim benefits.

It also suggests the council look at putting together a strategy on food poverty. Councillor Emma Roberts added: “It needs to cover all demographics and all age groups. We’ve learned through this food poverty panel that it’s families and young children, it’s single people, homeless people and elderly people who are all affected. So any strategy needs to be all-inclusive.”

Councillor Meredith said he was ‘shocked’ to find out how many pensioners did not receive pension credit, and that they were struggling on their basic pension. He said: “Food poverty hits them and their lives are shortened because if they’re not eating properly they can go into depression. It’s not a case of one or two, it’s a lot of pensioners who are too proud to claim that benefit. If we can do anything to help that then we will have achieved a lot.”

The draft report by the committee can be read in full here.