food services

Beyond beans: food banks in the UK

Food banks have been criticised for tackling the symptoms of poverty rather than addressing the causes - but often they do more than supplying essential nutrition to those in crisis. Many are now aiming to offer all-round support to address the underlying problems that leave people unable to support themselves.

This paper provides an overview of foodbanks, food poverty and the role of food banks in society.

Fair and square: free school meals for all children in poverty

In England, 1.2 million school children in poverty do not get free school meals. 700,000 of them – often from poor, working families – aren’t even entitled to this key support. The remaining 500,000 are put off claiming both by systems that clearly single out those receiving free meals, which can lead to teasing and bullying, and by the poor quality of some of the food on offer. This report shows that giving children in poverty a free school meal makes sense on every level.

Meals and messages: a focus on food services for older people living in the community in Scotland

Report that outlines the main findings from a study by ODS Consultants commissioned by Consumer Focus Scotland and Community Food and Health Scotland. The study included a survey of all Scottish local authorities, three community organisation commissioned case studies, and focus group activity and telephone interviews with older people using food services.