New map shows where millions of UK residents struggle to access food.

[2greys]

In one out of every six local authorities, rates of hunger are more than 150 per cent (one and a half times) the national average. Shockingly, in one in 10 local authorities, the rate is almost double, according to new research by the University of Sheffield.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food modelled data from the Food Foundation, who surveyed people across the UK, and for the first time were able to identify food insecurity at a local authority scale. Local authority percentages show the marked variation in levels of food insecurity between local areas and, whereas national and even regional averages, hide this difference.

According to data from the Food Foundation, in January 2021, 4.2 per cent of adults across the UK reported that during the previous month they had been hungry but unable to eat at least once, but the problem is much worse in some places with nearly one out of every ten adults going hungry.

This new analysis of the national data collected during the pandemic goes further to assess the problem at a local authority level and breaks down experiences of food insecurity into three distinct groups, mapping them for the first time:

sheffield.ac.uk/news/new-ma...

Map image:

shefuni.maps.arcgis.com/app...

[Ian1967]

Hi 2greys, this is the perfect storm we're suffering from now, whilst the Pingdemic can partly be blamed the biggest two problems are, Driver shortage and the B word which ends rexit, funnily enough the second reason is the main cause of the first.

Supermarkets have had shortages even before the Pingdemic, if you look at the shelves you might have noticed things being put in strange places and other lines being completely missing, also since the B word the UK have been short of drivers with the majority going home to the EU, but don't worry Johnson and Grant Shapps have a great idea, let's Double the size of trucks and get the UK drivers who are still here to work even longer hours and expect them to drive these longer trucks, despite the drivers not being trained to drive them, let alone our roads aren't suitable to take them!

Ian.

[2greys in reply to Ian1967]

Yes a lot of the drivers were from the EU, many were Polish owner drivers but their families did not live here and sent money home to them. Brexit and Covid sent them back to their families. Not just the drivers but also their trucks, you used to see a lot of 'left hookers' on the roads displaying PL plates, not any more.

[hypercat54]

I know from having 'lived' on Job seekers allowance in the past that by the time you have paid a quarter of your council tax, all utility bills etc. often there is only around £10-£15 left to buy food with. This is not enough to eat healthily and if I only had £1 left and was hungry I certainly didn't buy fruit or veg with it but anything cheap to fill myself up. That was the priority, not healthy eating. I bought own brands coz they were cheaper.

You have to plan ahead so what I did if I had a spare quid or so was to buy cheap cans of beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and look for things on special offer. The other thing I did was save 5p's as I didn't really miss those whereas anything higher I did. This saved my life a few times but I am on my own so goodness knows how those with children manage. Impossible.

One time I remember some kids broke a window and as I own, it cost me to replace it which had me relying on my cans and 5p's. If something like this happens catastrophe. The basic sickness benefit used to be around £25 a week more but this was changed to the same rate as JSA. I don't know how those unable to work manage as they might needs cabs or other things.

As budgets are squeezed even more because of the B word and especially having to save money due to covid costs things can only get worse. I remember reading that if you thought the previous austerity years were bad it will seem like a golden age compared to what's coming.

[Alberta56]

This is shocking and dispiriting. We are still one of the rich nations, so why is this allowed to happen? Surely it can't be the Government's fault.

[2greys in reply to Alberta56]

The Govt. negotiated the terms of Brexit, but the majority of people voted for it, whether the people were mis-sold/hoodwinked into voting for it, the history books will tell. As for Covid, it is natural for the EU drivers and their trucks to want to go home to be with their families.

Then there is also the question of pay and conditions. There are many qualified people with HGV driver licences in the country that will no longer work in the trucking industry, having left for better jobs.

What you might call 'the perfect storm' to create the transport crisis.

[Ergendl]

Horrid to see how much neighbouring Stoke on Trent is struggling, with over 10% of residents hungry and estimated 30% worried and insecure.