IN-PERSON London. Section A

Abstract

This study focuses on the impact of food-focused interventions for people experiencing food insecurity in Plymouth, a city with a unique set of challenges relating to its peripheral location within the UK. A significant proportion of households in Plymouth are defined as having very low food security, with single parents, BAME communities, large families and those living with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions most affected- 20% have disclosed that they have to use access food aid to meet their needs. Plymouth has a network of food aid providers and research into the impact of this network involved mapping with key stakeholders, the individual, relational and collective strengths and assets within the city, taking an ‘appreciative inquiry’ approach (Cooperrider and Srivastva, 1987). Providers including food larders, the soup run, a food growing project, vegetable box provider and a community cooking project were supported to conduct research with the people accessing their services in order to understand what made a positive difference to them, and why. Data was collected through interviews, group discussions, surveys and observational field notes. The findings were that people experiencing food insecurity valued the availability of free or affordable food- this impacted positively on their health and nutrition. However, what came through most strongly was the value of these interventions on people’s sense of well-being, their enhanced sense of agency, feelings of connectedness to their communities and the city, and reduced social isolation. They came for the food, but they stayed for the people.