The Food Foundation joins 56-strong coalition demanding cost of living action

The Food Foundation is one of 56 influential organisations that have endorsed the alarming conclusions of the independent analysis of the poverty crisis commissioned by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The report titled Is Cost of Living Support Enough? was carried out by Professor Donald Hirsch, director of the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University.

It shows that, for households on benefits, the support that the Government has so far offered to help with the cost of living crisis does not offset the impact of three key income blows (the loss of the £20 Universal Credit uplift, inflation rates outpacing the level at which benefits have been uprated, and the forecast £800 increase in the energy price cap).

The gap is most severe for the largest households. A couple with two children are shown to be facing a gap of at least £1,600 this year.

The larger the household, the bigger the shortfall. With inflation rates predicted to rise further still, the figures presented in this report are only like to rise, leaving families in an even worse situation.

In the face of rising costs and falling incomes, families have been left behind by the Government’s existing support package. 

Isabel Hughes policy engagement manager at The Food Foundation, said: "We and many other organisations and politicians from all sides have repeatedly warned of this impending crisis caused by the worst cost of living squeeze in living memory.

"There is now a very serious shortfall in support for families who are most seriously in need. Urgent action is needed. That is why we have repeatedly called for extended access to free school meals for the millions of children living in poverty who currently miss out on this vital safety net.

"Ensuring these children’s access to one nutritious hot meal a day is the quickest way to prevent an under-nutrition epidemic which will otherwise blight the education, health and future productivity prospects of a generation.

"We hope the incoming government will take seriously Professor Hirch’s authoritative analysis and understand the need for immediate intervention."

The report is based on figures drawn at the end of July 2022. 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS   

For The Food Foundation please contact:  

Lois Rogers – 07770 350822 – lois.rogers@foodfoundation.org.uk 

For interviewees on the report itself please contact:  

Michael Ivatt, The Methodist Church – 07786266739 – ivattm@methodistchurch.org.uk  

Hashtags  

#EnoughToLive #CostofLivingCrisis #BreadlineVoices 

Full list of report signatories: 

Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action  

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive, Child Poverty Action Group  

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester  

Andy Elvin, Chief Executive, TACT Fostering  

Anna Taylor, Executive Director, Food Foundation  

Anna Turley, Chair, North East Child Poverty Commission  

Anthony Boateng, Vice-President, The Methodist Church in Britain  

Archbishop Andrew John, Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Bangor, Church in Wales  

Archbishop Leo William Cushley, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh  

Ben Gilchrist, CEO, Caritas Shrewsbury  

Bishop Mike Royal, General Secretary, Churches Together in England  

Claire Donovan, Campaigns Manager, End Furniture Poverty  

Colin Date, Acting Chair, Christian Concern for One World  

Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England  

Elizabeth Palmer, CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society (England & Wales)  

Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Chair, Justice & Peace Commission, Diocese of Westminster  

Heidi Chow, Executive Director, Debt Justice  

Imran Hussain, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Action for Children  

Jamie Driscoll, Mayor of North Tyne Combined Authority  

Jo Wittams, Interim Executive Director, The Equality Trust 

John Coleby, CEO, Caritas Westminster  

Jon Miles, Senior Development Worker, Transforming Communities Together  

Joseph Howes, Chair, End Child Poverty Coalition and CEO of Buttle UK  

Lord John Bird, Founder, The Big Issue  

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol  

Matthew Van Duyvenbode, CSO , Trussell Trust  

Mia Hasenson-Gross, Director, René Cassin  

Most Revd Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church  

Natalie Williams, Chief Executive, Jubilee+  

Niall Cooper, Director, Church Action on Poverty  

Nicola Brady, General Secretary, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland  

Paul Bodenham, Programme Leader for Social Action, Caritas Diocese of Nottingham  

Paul Kissack, Chief Executive, Joseph Rowntree Foundation  

Paul McNamee, Editor, The Big Issue  

Paul Southgate, Chair, National Justice and Peace Network  

Paula Stringer, UK Chief Executive, Christians Against Poverty  

Peter Kelly, Director, Poverty Alliance  

Peter Lynas, UK Director, Evangelical Alliance  

Rabbi Charley Baginsky, CEO, Liberal Judaism  

Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK  

Red Dr Ellen Loudon, Chair Together Liverpool  

Rev Ian Rutherford, Chairperson, Greater Manchester Food Security Action Network  

Rev Karen Hendry, Acting Convenor, Faith Impact Forum, Church of Scotland  

Revd Archie Ford, Moderator, United Free Church of Scotland  

Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of the General Assembly, United Reformed Church  

Revd Graham Thompson, President, Methodist Church in Britain  

Revd James Green, Executive Director, Together Liverpool  

Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, Baptist Union of Great Britain  

Revd Paul Rochester, General Secretary, Free Churches Group  

Revd R Creswell, Chair, The Methodist Fund for Human Need  

Revd/Parchg Beti-Wyn James, President Union of Welsh Independents/Llywydd Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg  

Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales  

Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, Chair of ChurchWorks Commission on Covid Recovery  

Ruth Harvey Leader, The Iona Community  

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London  

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region  

Taidgh Pledger, Political Officer, National Education Union  

The full list of signatories to the report is:  

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire  

Zara Mohammed, Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain  

 

About the Food Foundation 

The Food Foundation is a charity working to influence food policy and business practice, shaping a sustainable food system which makes healthy diets affordable and accessible for all. We work in partnership with researchers, campaigners, community bodies, industry, investors, government and citizens to galvanise the UK’s diverse agents of change, using surprising and inventive ideas to drive fundamental shifts in our food system. These efforts are based on the continual re-evaluation of opportunities for action, building and synthesising strong evidence, convening powerful coalitions, harnessing citizens’ voices and delivering impactful communications.    

Registered Charity Number 1187611.