A great day yesterday, we saw the government's publication of the Crisis and Resilience Fund guidance. This will be transformative for households on low incomes. See this piece by @sabinegoodwin.bsky.social for the Big Issue

How the Crisis and Resilience Fund can help end the need for food banks

As new information is published around the £1 billion Crisis and Resilience Fund, the Independent Food Aid Network's Sabine Goodwin shares her thoughts.

bigissue.com

Great to represent @ifanuk.bsky.social in Parliament this morning at the launch of @turn2us.org.uk new campaign. A brilliant event for a campaign that is desperately needed. Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need it. #stopthestigma #fixthesystem

So good to take part in this today! Hundreds of food aid workers coming together for a day of hope, solidarity and action, calling for an #essentialsguarantee. Thanks to @trusselluk.bsky.social and @sabinegoodwin.bsky.social for organising...an incredible effort.

Independent Food Aid Network @ifanuk.bsky.social · last yr.

We're glad to be in Westminster today calling for an #EssentialsGuarantee @ifanuk.bsky.social member representatives from across the UK are meeting with their local MPs to urge them to act #CashFirst @charlottemwhite.bsky.social @trusselluk.bsky.social @trussellscot.bsky.social

Great piece by @sabinegoodwin.bsky.social Almost a year since the new gov elected and the situation for food banks is no better

Big Issue@bigissue.com · last yr.

Food bank volunteers are having to face facts, writes Sabine Goodwin, director of the Independent Food Aid Network.

Happy New Year #saintsfc fans. So, given we all know we're already down, can we at least ask for a few things - to not beat Derby's record...12 points please - to finally score from a set piece - to have at least one joyous, fun win (like Huddersfield last year) (Actually, just a win will do...)

Oh Russell, it's so over we need a new word for over #saintsfc

Excellent piece by @sabinegoodwin.bsky.social . These new figures are shocking but the real picture is much much worse www.bigissue.com/opinion/food...

Number of food bank users is shocking – but it's the tip of the hunger iceberg

Sabine Goodwin, director of IFAN, asks what is next for Labour's manifesto commitment to end dependence on food banks.

bigissue.com

Such an important point here. This data is shocking, but just the tip of the iceberg. At our food bank it was heartbreaking to hear how long people had struggled for before visiting. Usually months of skipping meals (sometimes entire days without food), making every conceivable sacrifice. 1/2

Independent Food Aid Network @ifanuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

“It’s long been established that, year after year, eye-watering Trussell figures represent just the tip of the UK’s food insecurity iceberg." @sabinegoodwin.bsky.social Trussell's latest data show 280,000 used their food banks for the first time over six months www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

These figures are shocking. That, in the 6th richest country in the world, a quarter of the population live in poverty. This is what we should be marching about.

Independent Food Aid Network @ifanuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

Rate of poverty in the UK is now higher than at any point in the 21st Century... 16 million people in the UK are living in poverty, that's 24% of the population 5.2 million children, 9.2 million working-age adults, 1.5 million pension-age adults #CashFirst wpieconomics.com/poverty-rate...

"Our focus must be on permanently reversing this devastating trend while ending the normalisation of a charitable response to poverty." Trussell distributed 69% more emergency food parcels than five years ago @helenbarnard.bsky.social @isabellamcrae.bsky.social @bigissue.bsky.social #CashFirst

Independent Food Aid Network @ifanuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

“It’s long been established that, year after year, eye-watering Trussell figures represent just the tip of the UK’s food insecurity iceberg." @sabinegoodwin.bsky.social Trussell's latest data show 280,000 used their food banks for the first time over six months www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

As temperatures drop to freezing, the @mayorofldn.bsky.social and London Councils have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which means that London boroughs and City Hall will be opening up emergency accomodation for rough sleepers.

Important Westminster Hall debate on food bank use tomorrow at 9.30am thanks to Seamus Logan MP Here's hoping the UK Government will commit to a #cashfirst approach to #foodinsecurity and end the need the food banks/other forms of charitable food aid @ifanuk.bsky.social bit.ly/4fQ5YxA #CashFirst

Wrote this piece for the Big Issue about the pressure on foodbank volunteers www.bigissue.com/opinion/food...

Food bank volunteers at breaking point as demand rises: 'We must absorb the sadness and soldier on' ...

As winter settles in, there are many things we’re worried about at the food bank. How our volunteers will cope is one of them.

bigissue.com

We are not a serious country.

The Big Issue visited our food bank. Here's the excellent piece by Isabella McRae. I don't think most people realise how bad the situation is. And how much worse it's going to get. www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

Food bank says people are turning to sex work and taking out dangerous loans due to cost of living -...

The Big Issue visited a food bank in South London, where guests are turning to dangerous measures in the cost of living crisis.

bigissue.com