Food insecurity in the London Borough of Enfield: Launch of report by Enfield & The Barnets United Nations Association Group

On 18th December at the Civic Centre in Enfield Town the Enfield & The Barnets group of the United Nations Association (EBUNA) will be holding a meeting which the public will be able to join via Zoom (see the link below).

At the meeting EBUNA will be presenting a report describing the emerging findings of its research into one of the United Nations sustainable development goals - SDG2/Zero Hunger -  in relation to the London Borough of Enfield.

"Today’s 2,800 food banks and emergency food suppliers are now as recognisable a feature of the British landscape as the local secondary school. Food banks are opening as fast as high street banks have been closing down. Their existence is of course a testimony to the human decency and heroic endeavours of thousands of fellow citizens who feel the pain of others and believe in something bigger than themselves. But the fact that food banks have had to come into existence in one of the richest countries in the world is a scar on our collective conscience and a permanent stain on our country’s character."

Source: Draft report by Enfield & The Barnets United Nations Association group

The aim of the research was to explore the extent and causes of food insecurity in the borough and to record any formal or community resources deployed to alleviate the risks in vulnerable groups.

One cause that was identified is food price inflation, which peaked at 19%, while, according to the House of Commons Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee, supermarkets enjoyed a 97% profits increase in 2023.

The research has revealed that food poverty/food insecurity exists in the borough on a far greater scale and depth than was apparent at the outset of the work, in the course of which EBUNA investigated the social and economic make-up of the borough, levels of deprivation, child poverty and other vulnerable groups.

EBUNA eventually identified 27 food banks and five pantries operating in the borough, though they suspect that there may be more. As well as those  organised by large national groups such as the Trussell Trust, the Felix Project and the Independent Food Aid Network, there are food banks operated by various neighbourhood religious and secular groups and by many smaller organisations.

The researchers also contacted food co-ops and Enfield Council to investigate the scope for using allotments and gardens to alleviate food poverty.