Chapter 4: Ensure a healthy standard of living for all

Since the 2008 global recession, and most recently the coronavirus pandemic, food aid services offering free food parcels have become a well-known feature in our communities. Food banks are grassroots, community organisations aimed at supporting people who cannot afford the essentials in life. Linked to rising rates of food insecurity, food banks also faced increased demand nationally, with 2.1 million food parcels distributed in the 2021/2022 financial year, an increase of nearly a million parcels since 2016/2017 when 1.2 million food parcels were distributed.
(The Trussell Trust (2022). End of year stats.)

Across Gateshead, food aid services offer non-judgmental support to a variety of people accessing them, including women, often moving beyond food to provide support in other ways. Food aid services have positively responded to the issue of food insecurity. The details of emergency food aid networks / providers and wider food support organisations in Gateshead are available at: www.gateshead.gov.uk/costofliving (link no longer available)

Healthy Start vouchers are a cash-benefit accessible to women who are on a low income and are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years. These vouchers provide support to buy fruit, vegetables and cow's milk. In summer 2021, the value of Healthy Start vouchers increased and moved from a paper voucher system to a Mastercard that is topped up each week.
(Save the Children. (2022). Gender roles can create lifelong cycle of inequality)