Food Sense Wales and our response to the COVID-19 crisis:

Grants awarded to five small horticultural business in Wales to help increase vegetable production

Five small horticultural business in Wales will benefit from grants to help grow their edible horticultural businesses to serve communities across Wales.

In a bid to help smaller Welsh initiatives to increase their production and in turn, increase veg consumption, Food Sense Wales along with partners Social Farms & Gardens, have awarded grants to five food enterprises with no more than 5-Hectares of production land.

These small grants, worth between £2,500 and £5,000 have been offered as part of the Peas Please project, a UK National Lottery funded programme whose main aim us to drive up veg consumption. This support is being delivered in Wales by Food Sense Wales, which leads on Peas Please work in Wales, in partnership with Social Farms & Gardens.

Read more here

A time for change?

With the conversation around Free School Meals more prevalent than ever, Katie Palmer, Programme Manager at Food Sense Wales addresses the huge difficulties that many families face and discusses how reviewing Wales’ Free School Meals system could provide a possible solution. 

Read the full article here

Food Cardiff and Food Power join forces to help support families in Cardiff 

Food Cardiff's Food and Poverty group is to receive £17,000 worth of funding from Food Power to support children and families at risk of food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Food Power for Generation Covid’ which will help provide food for vulnerable children and their families by awarding grants to UK community projects like Food Cardiff’s Food and Poverty Group.

Read more about the project here

A Child’s Christmas in Wales?

As we start to look forward to the Christmas holidays, Katie Palmer, Programme Manager at Food Sense Wales addresses the difficulties that many families will face and discusses how reviewing Wales’ Free School Meals system could provide a possible solution.

Read the full piece here

UK FOOD BUSINESSES HAVE SERVED 162 MILLION EXTRA PORTIONS OF VEG IN 3 YEARS AS A RESULT OF INNOVATIVE PEAS PLEASE INITIATIVE

The 2019-2020 progress report released on Monday 7th December by Peas Please – a project that works to make vegetables more appealing, accessible, and affordable – unpacks the ‘Veg Pledges’ made by 25 Veg Cities and 70 contract caterers, high street chains, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, public food procurers and broadcasters.

The report finds that an impressive 162 million additional portions of veg were either served or sold by these businesses as a direct result of the programme. The numbers in the report do however paint a picture of a food system hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with 27% of organisations that are part of the scheme unable to report back this year due to capacity issues (the majority from the Out of Home sector, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by this sector).

Even with Covid-19 causing disruption across the food sector, the Peas Please initiative continued to deliver on its mission, with 72.1 million additional portions of veg being sold or served this year. This demonstrates remarkable progress in the right direction, despite the rate of increase slowing slightly as a result of the pandemic (approximately 13 million fewer additional portions were reported compared to last year.)

Full story here Full report here

Wales can have the most secure and sustainable food system in the world

On Thursday, December 3rd, Food Policy Alliance Cymru - a coalition of organisations and stakeholders building and promoting a collective vision for the Welsh food system – will be presenting its Manifesto to Senedd Cymru’s Cross Party Group on Food.

According to Food Policy Alliance Cymru, Wales needs a major transformation in its food system in order to protect public health, restore the environment and develop our rural economy.

In order to achieve this, Food Policy Alliance Cymru is calling on the next Welsh Government to create a new Food System Commission that will tackle a range of issues, including biodiversity decline and climate change; diet-related health problems, food insecurity and dependence on food banks as well as the financial hardship experienced by many producing and serving our food.

Read the Press Release here Read the full Manifesto here

Join us - Peas Please, Veg Power, and Veg Cities

Join us - Peas Please, Veg Power, and Veg Cities – as we bring together our community of cities, organisations, and individuals to discuss what place vegetables have in food policy, our diets, and the post-Covid-19 food environment. Free sign up here for a week of events starting on Monday 12th October. Food Sense Wales will be hosting webinar 6 How we can work together locally to encourage communities to take action on veg? and featuring Food Cardiff.

Bevan Foundation have launched their webpage for Challenge Poverty week

Food Sense Wales will be taking part in a “watchparty” for World Food Day What are the links between food and poverty?  

Food Cardiff has published its report on the city’s food response to Covid 19 during lockdown

World Food day approaches

As World Food day approaches (Friday 16th October) keep an eye out on our twitter feeds @foodsensewales @FFLGT_Cymru @goodfoodcardiff @peaspleaseUK for details of how we will be marking the day.

Katie discusses what the Future of Food in Wales may look like with an expert panel; Dr Amber Wheeler (Food Foundation), Gary Mitchell (Social Farms and Gardens) & Angelina Sanderson-Bellamy (Sustainable Places Institute, Cardiff University).

This event kick started the Good Food Cardiff’s Autumn Festival. For more events about growing, cooking and sharing food throughout the city visit https://foodcardiff.com/blog/autumnfestival2020/

New Data from You Gov / Food Foundation finds 12.3% of parents in Wales reporting their children experiencing food insecurity in the last 6 months

New Survey launch

Children in Wales want to know about your experiences and examples of how Coronavirus has impacted low income or disadvantaged families. This survey includes questions on food insecurity and closes on 29th July. Children in Wales are seeking to find out how Coronavirus has impacted low income and disadvantaged families and to gather evidence to bring about positive change for these children and families.

The Children’s Right2Food Campaign’s Young Food Ambassadors have published their new Children’s Right2Food Charter, which has been updated in light of the problems exacerbated by the Covid-19 lockdown, and provides an evidence-based road map for the government to ensure that every children has access to a healthy diet. The Charter is accompanied by a new report which points to a lack of action, slow progress and Covid-related delays in children’s food policy across all four UK nations, including Wales, despite two million children experiencing food insecurity since lockdown.

Peas Please partnership publish Veg Facts: in Brief

A new report released by the Peas Please initiative, highlights that UK vegetable production fell by 12% between 2017 and 2018 , the lowest level of domestic horticulture production for over 20 years .

The new report, Veg Facts: in Brief, finds that the UK supplies just 52.7% of veg, with the majority of imported vegetables coming from Spain and the Netherlands.

Food Standards Agency (FSA) publish findings from their COVID-19 consumer tracker

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today published the findings for waves one and two of the Covid-19 Consumer Tracker. Key findings show:

Welsh Government publish data on their response to COVID-19

The Welsh Government is publishing data on their response to Covid 19. The data includes Statistics on: social distancing, food parcels, discretionary assistance fund and support for business.

Thousands of families in Cardiff grow food at home during lockdown

Read more about the Sustainable Food City project to encourage people to grow their own fruit and vegetables. The project, supported by Food Cardiff, has seen almost 14,000 plants, seeds and growing kits being distributed to families across Cardiff. Read more about this story on Wales Online .

BBC Food feature on food insecurity and COVID-19

BBC Food have highlighted the potential impact of COVID-19 on food insecurity, in a feature that includes a statement by Pearl Costello, Sustainable Food Cities Co-Ordinator for Food Cardiff. Read more about the call for data gathering and evidence to better monitor food insecurity in Wales here

Katie Palmer speaks to Cardiff and Vale UHB on food insecurity

Hear from our Progamme Manager Katie Palmer, who features on the latest podcast from Cardif and Vale University Health Board, discussing food insecurity and the food system, and how it’s been affected by COVID-19.

Listen here

Food banks report busiest month ever

The Trussell Trust reports a soaring 89% increase in need for emergency food parcels during April 2020 compared to the same month last year, including a 107% rise in parcels given to children.

Across the UK, a coalition of charities, including the Trussell Trust, IFAN, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Children’s Society, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), StepChange and Turn2us, is also urging the UK government to act quickly in providing a stronger lifeline to families to prevent many children from being swept into destitution.

Read more here

URGENT APPEAL

With most of the food services sector closed, good seasonal veg is at risk of going to waste. @VegPowerUK are starting #SeasonalVeg campaign and are asking all food lovers to help. Find out more and offer your support: http://www.vegpower.org.uk/register

Right to Food Webinar featuring Katie Palmer, Programme Manager at Food Sense Wales

The last few weeks have heightened inequalities in the UK and shone a spotlight on issues surrounding children's access to food. During this challenging time, we explore what options there are to protect every child's nutrition and how this might be introduced and implemented.

Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, and the Mayor's Fund for London, a pan-London children's charity championing social mobility for young Londoners, have brought together leaders from across the industry to discuss ways in which we can tackle food insecurity and champion children’s right to food through our work.

The webinar will be held on Thu, 28 May 2020 from 13:00 – 14:00

To register, please click here

New research published today by the Food Foundation on food insecurity and COVID-19

New data published by our partners at the Food Foundation shows food insecurity affecting nearly five million adults in the UK with no plan for government help.

For more detail on this story, click here

To find out more about the Food Foundation’s COVID-19 tracker, click here

Food Cardiff launches its Good Food Response

With the food system under pressure during the Covid-19 outbreak, Food Cardiff launches its Good Food Response Food Cardiff is coordinating city-wide action with members including; Cardiff Council, Cardiff 3rd Sector Council, Fareshare Cymru, Trussell Trust and Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, to support vulnerable people and to promote the positive changes which are being made in response to the lockdown.

Discretionary Assistance fund

Welsh Government has launched a social media campaign to help raise awareness of the Discretionary Assistance fund – an emergency fund for those that might find themselves in extreme financial hardship for reasons including delays in benefit payments. The Emergency Assistance payment element of the fund could help cover the cost of food, gas and electricity, clothing and emergency travel.

Veg box sales in the UK have increased by 111% in six weeks as a result of Covid 19

New data from the Food Foundation by Dr Amber Wheeler shows that veg box sales in the UK have increased by 111% in six weeks as a result of Covid 19. This builds on evidence we collated specifically for Wales together with Cardiff University, Tyfu Cymru and Peas Please in Wales.

The vital role local authorities could have in shaping food systems

An article by Jane Powell via the Sustainable Food Trust and featuring Food Cardiff , highlights the role local authorities could have in shaping food systems in the light of their central role in the Covid 19 food response.

Food insecurity after just a month of lockdown

New data from the Food Foundation shows more than five million people living in households with children under 18 have experienced food insecurity after just a month of lockdown

Food Supply chains "need a rethink"

Dr Ludivine Petetin, from Cardiff University, said changes in global markets could lead to a worldwide food shortage in the coming months

Read more here

Increased funding for the Discretionary Assistance Fund

The Welsh Government is increasing the amount of funding for the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) so it can support the calls for financial help from people across Wales

Read more here

Public Health survey reveals the impact of Covid 19 on Health and Wellbeing.

A national engagement survey conducted weekly by Public Health Wales is revealing the impact of Coronavirus on physical, mental and social wellbeing. Its shows that 28% of people are worried about accessing food, 35% of people hadn’t left their house in the previous week to shop for food and 38% of people are snacking more.

Read more here

Funding for Free School Meals

The Welsh Government has announced it will continue funding free school meals for eligible children during the summer holidays. Moving away from a National Voucher scheme money has been made available to Local Authorities to provide free school meals through:

• A bank transfer to families eligible for free school meals
• The provision of vouchers
• The delivery of food items to the families of pupils who receive free school meals

Read more here

What does Covid 19 mean for Food insecurity in Wales?

Zoom Briefing Tuesday 21st April 11am-12pm

Figures released this week from a You Gov Poll commissioned by the Food Foundation and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission show that more than 3 Million adults in Britain (6%) report that someone in their household has gone hungry in the first 3 weeks of lock down.

Food Sense Wales will be holding an online briefing to take a look at what this data means for Wales. What are the challenges for ensuring everyone is receiving the food they need? What is the current state of play in Wales and what should we be asking of Government?

Agenda:

• Picture in Wales – current food response to crisis (Katie Palmer, Food Sense Wales)
• Food Insecurity data for UK and Wales – You Gov Poll (Anna Taylor, Food Foundation)
• Government Asks – UK and Wales
• Questions and discussion

To attend please contact katie.palmer@wales.nhs.uk for a link.

Latest research into food insecurity during COVID-19 crisis

Our partners at the Food Foundation have released the results from their latest research into food insecurity during the COVID-19 crisis. The results received extensive news coverage;

It was covered in the Financial Times, The Guardian, Metro, Telegraph, Independent, Daily Mail, Sun, Talk Radio, LBC and BBC news – please find the full press release here.

Read more about the poll via the COVID-19 tracker on the Food Foundation website along with the data visualisations.

Survey with producers of fruit and veg in Wales

Peas Please, Tyfu Cymru and Cardiff University have conducted a survey with producers of fruit and veg in Wales to help us understand the immediate experiences of and responses to the Covid 19 crisis.

Read more here

New Welsh Government regulations on 2 metre social distancing in workplace

New rules have been published by the Welsh Government in order to protect workers during the coronavirus outbreak will come into force on Tuesday morning. These rules may have implications for the food and drink industry and community groups / third sector organisations supporting Food Aid.

More information is available here

First food boxes delivered to the homes of people shielding from coronavirus

The first food boxes are being delivered to the doorsteps of people who are adopting strict shielding measures to protect themselves from coronavirus.

Read more here

COVID-19 Analysis conducted by our partners at the Food Foundation

FAMILIES IN THE UK ARE BORROWING MONEY TO BUY FOOD JUST A WEEK INTO LOCKDOWN

Read more here

Emergency online Summit on how the Covid19 crisis is affecting fruit and vegetable growing in Wales

The Sustainable Places Research Institute (Cardiff University) supported by Tyfu Cymru and Peas Please are convening an emergency online Summit on how the Covid19 crisis is affecting fruit and vegetable growing in Wales. This is an opportunity to share how the crisis is affecting growers and what support is needed. Afterwards we will convey the key messages to Government.

Summit start: Thursday 2nd April at 4.00-5.00pm

To join the Summit you will need the link to the online Zoom meeting. Please email pitth2@cf.ac.uk to receive the link.

If you are a grower you are invited to complete the online questionnaire to help inform the meeting and establish key issues https://cardiff.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/c19-emergency-horticulture-survey

Millions to need food aid in days as virus exposes UK supply

Our partners at the Food Foundation warn of spiral of hunger unless government intervenes. Read more here

Welsh Government package of support

The Welsh Government has announced a package of support worth £1.4bn for small businesses to help them during the coronavirus outbreak.

Click here for more information.

Our urgent guidance for local authority response

Across Wales there are significant differences in life expectancy between those in the least deprived areas and most deprived areas, within Local Authorities across Wales.

Diet, both in terms of food options available and food consumed, has a part to play in this life expectancy. The Covid-19 crisis will exacerbate this and it is important to act quickly to support households across Wales.

Food Cardiff have created a briefing for Local Authorities, providing details of the urgent steps they can take to ensure all households are provided with food during this time.

Statement from the End Child Poverty Network Cymru

As members of the End Child Poverty Network Cymru, the network have released a statement in response to the Welsh Governments school closures to help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The full statement, supported by the Minister for Education in Wales, can be read here.

Anti-Poverty Coalition letter to Welsh Government

As the Coronavirus continues to spread, the Wales Anti-Poverty Coalition, of which we are a member, have written an open letter to Welsh Government, outlining our concerns for people in poverty in Wales, and to offer recommendations to inform Welsh Government’s response. Read the letter here.