Health warning over Shropshire ‘food poverty crisis’

Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance said it is worried what the future holds, with one in five children in the county already living in poverty and 70 per cent of adults already classed as being overweight or obese.

The alliance said its research suggests changes to the government’s benefits system will result in £105 million per year will be lost in the county – equivalent to £550 per working age adult.

Health bosses also said it is having an impact on people’s wellbeing, while a councillor called on schools to help teach children to cook.

Emily Fay, from the alliance, sent a report to Shropshire Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board, saying she was worried what the future holds with so many people already missing out on nutritious meals due to poverty.

She said: “We were formed to tackle the issue of food poverty and we currently collect surplus food from supermarkets and hand it out to food banks and community tables.

“Upcoming changes to benefits is going to have a major impact on people’s health.

Spending

“Food poverty is an issue affecting many households in Shropshire. Families and individuals may be increasingly financially squeezed as a result of the cost of living combined with slow wage increases and the cumulative impact of welfare reforms on both working and non-working households.

“In many cases, the food budget is the only area where families can cut their spending.”

She said the alliance would be working to enhance emergency support for people in food crisis, focus on prevention and changing the landscape going forward.

Dr Julian Povey, clinical chair of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said there was no doubt food poverty is impacting on the county.

He said: “I work in a relatively affluent area of the county and have still seen the effect on people.

“You can’t play down the impact this is having on people’s health.”

Ms Fay added: “Schools are helping but they are struggling. We have heard stories of children having their uniforms washed at school or fruit and snacks being provided for children to help them cope because they are coming in to school hungry.

“One mother in Market Drayton told me her heart was breaking because she wanted to be a good mother but was struggling.”

Story by Local Democracy Reporter

Andrew Morris