Travel costs 'worsening reliance on food banks'
Tackling the high cost of transportation could help reduce the number of people in food poverty, according to a new group established to address the growing demand for food banks.
Many impoverished families find a lack of affordable transportation is a barrier to them going to the supermarket, the group heard at its first meeting in Edinburgh today.
The group is chaired by Reverend Dr Martin Johnstone, the secretary of the Church of Scotland's Church and Society Council.
He has been asked to make recommendations to the Scottish Government by February next year.
Representatives from poverty organisations and charities discussed how to address the issues which push people into food poverty.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The group met for the first time in Edinburgh today to introduce everyone involved and identify some of the key areas that the group will focus on.
"It will be looking at best practice in other countries and other organisations.
"There was a discussion about transport costs, as lots of people find transport is a barrier to getting to the supermarket, and also about how organisations can better collaborate together."
Latest figures from the Trussell Trust show that in 2014/15, 117,689 people, including 36,114 children, picked up a three-day supply of groceries from their Scottish food banks. This was up from 14,318 people two years earlier.
The first meeting comes as the Poverty Alliance's annual Challenge Poverty Week runs from October 17 to 23.
Peter Kelly, director of the Poverty Alliance, said: "The growth of food banks in recent years is the surest sign that we need to do more to tackle poverty in Scotland.
"Challenge Poverty Week is aimed at highlighting that solutions to poverty do exist, and the work that volunteers across Scotland do week in and out providing emergency food aid shows that people are committed to tackling the scandal of food poverty.
"But it is necessary that we find longer term solutions to food poverty. So we welcome the Scottish Government convening this new group to find lasting solutions to the problem.
"Through it we will be able to draw on the experience and expertise of those volunteering in food banks, people using emergency food aid and those involved in community food projects to make a real difference in the future."
The short life working group is made up of representatives from a range of organisations including Oxfam, Fareshare and Poverty Truth Commission.
Its recommendations will feed into the Scottish Government's Social Justice Action Plan being published in the new year.
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said it is hoped the group will come up with a food strategy that will reduce the need for food banks over time.
He said: "It is heart-breaking that anyone should be left hungry and unable to afford to feed their families in a country as prosperous as Scotland.
"UK Government welfare cuts and benefit sanctions have continually pushed more and more people into food poverty and increased the demand and number of food banks in Scotland. This shocking trend has to stop."
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