Food Poverty
Half a million children are not adequately fed in the UK today, not as a result of negligence but due to a lack of money.
In Bristol 69,500 people (16% of the population) suffer from income deprivation; 26% of children live in poverty once housing costs are taken into account, which means 22,000 children are living in households where there isn’t enough money to provide a nutritiously balanced diet.
There are many factors which contribute to food poverty, including financial (restricted incomes and high prices for locally available healthy food), social (cultural expectations, education, skills, social networks and the marketing of unhealthy foods) and physical (access to shops selling affordable healthy food, access to storage and cooking facilities, and to transport).
Whatever the reasons, the outcomes are similar for many people.
How you or your church can help
Churches and individuals can help through ongoing support in volunteering and resourcing projects like the following:
Bristol & South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit focused in Lawrence Hill, serves communities across Bristol and South Gloucestershire providing practical support to the needy and marginalised. www.methodist-centre.org.uk
FareShare South-West collects and distributes food that would otherwise end up as waste to over 174 charities and organisations working with disadvantaged people www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk
The Salvation Army works with people who are vulnerable and marginalised across the world and offers very practical help, unconditional assistance and support regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. www.salvationarmy.org.uk/bristol-citadel
The Trussell Trust fed over 1.6 million people in 2018/19. People in need are issued with a voucher that can be redeemed for food. The aim is to meet emergency need, providing families and individuals with food for at least three days. www.trusselltrust.org
Food Banks
Bristol North West Foodbank, Social Justice Hub, St. Andrew's Church, Avonmouth Road, Avonmouth, Bristol BS11 9EN. bristolnorthwestfoodbank.org.uk
Carpenter’s Food & Support, The Withywood Centre, Queens Road, Withywood, Bristol, BS13 8QA. www.wellaware.org.uk/activities/carpenters-food-support
South & East Bristol Foodbank (office address only), 32 Stapleton Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0QY. eastbristol.foodbank.org.uk
North Bristol Foodbank c/o Ebenezer Church, 286 Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0BA. northbristol.foodbank.org.uk
Refresh Bedminster foodbank and free hot meals for the Homeless in Refresh Cafe, 81 East st Bedminster Bristol BS3 4EX www.refreshbedminster.org
Victoria Park Baptist Foodbank (Bedminster, Knowle and Windmill Hill), Charles Padfield Centre at Victoria Park Baptist Church on Sylvia Ave, BS3 5DA. www.victoriapark.org.uk/activities
For more information contact Stewart North, Stewart@ebe.org.uk
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