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Help available if you’re struggling to afford food

As the cost of living crisis worsens and food prices soar, millions are experiencing ‘food insecurity’. Here, we’ve put together some useful information and resources to help if you’re struggling to buy essential groceries.


What is food insecurity?

Food insecurity is when you or your family don’t have regular access to enough safe and nutritious food to live a healthy life. This is often because of low or irregular income.

Food insecurity can negatively impact physical and mental health, as well as have a negative effect on children’s educational achievement.

 

Food bank crate filled with tins of food

Who is most affected?

The Food Foundation reports that a total of 9.3 million adults experienced food insecurity in January 2023. That’s around 17.7% of all households who are often forced to choose between paying for food and things like rent, bills, transport or school uniform. 

Around 6.1% of households have admitted to not eating for a whole day because they couldn’t afford or access food. Those most affected are on a low income, key workers, disabled, families with children, claiming Universal Credit, or from an ethnic minority background. 


What help is available?

We can help you to make the most of your income and access any benefits you might be entitled to. Our Pound Advice service is open to all L&Q residents to help you with money worries. You can contact them at pound@we-are-digital.co.uk or by calling 0203 475 222.

If you’re in immediate need, some food banks can provide at least three days of food for people with a food voucher. They are run by charities and community groups. You can ask for a food voucher from a doctor, health visitor, social worker, school or advice service.

You’ll find information about foodbanks on these sites:


Other helpful sites and tools: