“The Scottish Government’s plans to establish a new Cash-First Programme is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to improve responses to food insecurity”, said Natalie Don MSP.
A commitment to a ‘cash-first’ approach to tackling food insecurity is at the heart of a new plan to reduce the need for people to turn to food banks.
Actions include establishing a new £1.8 million Cash-First Programme to help reduce the demand for emergency food parcels by improving urgent access to cash in crisis and associated support.
The Scottish Government will work with councils, the third sector and community food initiatives to help prevent future need by integrating money advice and wider support into crisis responses.
This announcement coincides with a report from Citizens Advice Scotland which revealed that there has been an 11% increase in demand for foodbank advice in the past year (to April 2023).
Natalie Don MSP added:
“While recognising the essential role played by foodbanks to support those struggling to feed themselves and their families, we need to reach people in need by providing a cash-first approach – backed with advice and support – allowing them more choice and dignity.
“The Scottish Government is doing what it can with the limited powers of devolution to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, including food insecurity but we need the full powers of an independent nation to really tackle the root causes of poverty.
“Scotland is the first nation in the UK to publish a plan towards ending the need for food banks, and this ambition is shared by food bank networks. As well as underlining our commitment to tackling poverty, cash is more humane in terms of allowing people to make their own choices about what their families require rather than just being assigned a food parcel.
Notes:
Cash-First: Towards ending the need for food banks in Scotland
The Scottish Government recognises the pressure on household budgets and has allocated almost £3 billion, both last year and this, to support policies which tackle poverty and protect people as far as possible during the ongoing cost of living crisis. In 2022-23 this included an additional £1.8 million for food groups and an extra £2.5 million for the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Anyone who is struggling financially can get advice through their local authority, a local advice service, or Social Security Scotland or by visiting the Scottish Government’s cost of living website.
The Trussell Trust found that the increase in the number of parcels provided for children in the second half of the year was 17% in Scotland compared to 42% in England.