Found: clothes, toys, and technology, donated by manufacturers and brands, to charities, community groups, food

Found: Food banks provide a vital service in remote rural Scotland.

Found: They are turning to food banks; they come to us wanting us to help them get grants for beds for their

Found: £13,493 each year Without legal assistance: Ms A would be reliant on local support services such as food

Found: from specialist benefits advisers and lawyers in other organisations, through to volunteers in food

Found: Norwich led to Anglian Water changing its business volunteering to enable employees to support food

Found: improving outcomes for children and young people, and reducing the need for emergency aid such as food

Found: improving outcomes for children and young people, and reducing the need for emergency aid such as food

Found: We supply a number of food banks with food that we redistribute.

Found: We supply a number of food banks with food that we redistribute.

Found: Q94 The Chair: Among the organisations that try very hard to address food insecurity are food banks

St Andrew's Secondary School fundraising

Found: They have also refurbished and decorated community kitchens and donated to local food banks.

Found: role of civil society groups and third sector organisations in running grassroots projects (e.g., food

Found: Food banks (e.g. The Trussell Trust) Mental health charities (e.g.

Found: There were reports of food banks being set up in police stations and of a recent increase in the number

Found: many of those who could not find employment as care workers were struggling to survive, turning to food

Found: MacGregor, A. (2023) Disability and financial hardship: How disability benefits contribute to the need for food

Found: opportunities by incentivising businesses to work in partnership with third sector groups such as charities and food

Found: delivery of food parcels, clothes), signposting to other services including benefits advice, food banks

Found: delivery of food parcels, clothes), signposting to other services including benefits advice, food banks

Found: including by: (i) ensuring all children’s access to nutritious foods and reducing their reliance on food

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking with local authorities to ensure that healthy foods are both (a) available and (b) affordable within the most deprived communities.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

Scottish Government is undertaking a range of actions to ensure healthy foods are available to and affordable for individuals living in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. This includes steps towards ending the need for food banks through our £1.8 million Cash-First Programme.

The programme will support eight public and third sector partnerships with four local authorities participating – Aberdeenshire Council, Fife Council, North Lanarkshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Council. This will strengthen urgent access to cash in a crisis and reduce the need for food parcels, meaning people can access the essentials they need whilst maintaining dignity.

Throughout 2023-24, we have also maintained funding levels for regional Community Food Networks so that they can continue to support people struggling to access healthier food options. The Networks help promote healthier diets in disadvantaged groups, whether that is due to lack of income, skills or cultural barriers. They provide a broad range of activities including: cooking classes, benefit checks, ‘grow-your-own’ food groups, cafés and food pantries.

Through funding the Healthy Living Programme, we are also helping convenience stores provide access to affordable healthier food options. More than two-thirds of the 2,300 strong Healthy Living Programme membership serves the most deprived areas of the country and ensures access to affordable, healthier food and drink in those communities.