New initiative to fight food poverty

A new initiative is being launched in Greater Manchester to fight food poverty across the region. 

The Greater Manchester Food Poverty Alliance will bring together individuals, politicians, churches, charities and businesses to work together for a Greater Manchester in which no-one has to go hungry.

Lower incomes and higher costs mean many people are struggling to put food on the table, and a healthy, balanced diet is becoming even further from their reach. We have seen the rise in food banks and other social food providers across Greater Manchester. A study undertaken by the alliance shows that there are at least 171 food banks and social food providers in the region. 

The aim of the alliance is to bring together the work of groups already on the ground and expand on the role of the public sector to tackle some of the issues around food poverty.  The joint strategic action will produce a Food Poverty Action Plan for Greater Manchester that will aim to: 

• Reduce and prevent food poverty
• Support communities to plan and adapt to the challenge of food poverty

The alliance is asking people who have lived experience of food poverty to attend the launch and get involved.

Tom Skinner, Director at Greater Manchester Poverty Action who are behind the alliance said:

“This alliance will have a place for people from all walks of life, from all across Greater Manchester.

Participants can be in the public, private or social sectors, and they can be leaders in positions of power, on-the-ground practitioners or people with lived experience of food poverty.

The Alliance, and the Action Plan, will be stronger if co-produced with people who are living with the experience of food poverty.”

You can join the alliance by attending the launch event:

Time: 1pm – 4pm    Date: Tuesday 8 May

Venue: Main Hall, Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ.

Register at:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greater-manchester-food-poverty-alliance-launch-tickets-44144968790