Addressing food insecurity with VCS partners

• Lead Member Newcastle City Council
• Categories Poverty
• Assets Download Case Study

During COVID-19, Newcastle City Council developed a joint response to address food insecurity alongside local voluntary and community sector (VCS) partners, schools and businesses.  Initially over 40 organisations supported residents affected by food insecurity who had to self-isolate or were affected financially because of the virus.  Food parcels, hot meals and essential items were provided, with food banks relaxing their criteria through the first wave.

Newcastle City Council and ConnectedVoice, the city’s voluntary sector infrastructure organisation, set up a helpline for residents – “Citylife Line” where the majority of requests were for food and essential items. Citylife Line developed into the multi-disciplinary Welfare and Wellbeing Team, which established a proactive approach to supporting residents, addressing the causes of food insecurity, typically relating to poverty.