The Sub-Committee will receive a presentation on the impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health and Mental Health Services.

The Sub-Committee received a report that summarised what food poverty is and who is affected by it in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH). It specifically highlighted the food poverty needs of older people and low-income families and showcased which food provision is in place for these vulnerable groups. 

The Sub-Committee then heard from Dr Sharon Noonan-Gunning on the Right to Food campaign. The main points arising from the questioning of the report maybe summarised as follows:

The Sub-Committee:

v  Noted that LBTH works collaboratively with stakeholders including the Food Partnership to lead the Food Poverty agenda.

v  Asked what provisions had been put in place to support people who used to use Meals on Wheels (MOW). In response it was noted that there was a range of approaches help with the transition of previous MOW users to alternative options as part of the transitions work that was done in Winter 2019-20 (pre-pandemic).  This included (i) Reablement short term support/intervention to support users with independently managing meal preparation/use alternative options; (ii) Support network assistance via neighbours/family; (iii) Frozen meal/ready meal options via local supermarket / community meal providers e.g. Wiltshire Farm Foods; (iv) Lunch clubs and other community-based meal providers e.g. church groups; and (v) Local restaurant/café/meal delivery options e.g. Deliveroo, Just Eat

v  Asked if there was an information pack for practitioners to use to support older people to look for alternative options. In response it was noted that as part of the MOW closure project a ‘basic’ information pack was created to assist  practitioners in exploring the range of alternative provision and support, this information pack was very much ‘work in progress’ and one of the outstanding outcomes from the project was to explore, with Public Health colleagues, the option to further develop this information pack and look at options to create an online information source for both practitioners and residents – some of this ‘online’ work has already been done in Summer 2021 (delayed due to Covid priorities) and is part of the Community Portal offer in LBTH.

v  Questioned if LBTH supported people who used Meals on Wheels with one off payments for white goods? In response it was noted that as part of the Care Act assessment and strengths-based approaches and LBTH has the option to support residents with ‘one off’ purchases for micro-waves, fridges, freezers where it is felt that this will support the residents to be more independent with meal provision and/or give them greater flexibility with alternatives; this can be done in a range of ways and in some cases can be easier facilitated via the use of a pre-paid one-off card.

v  Noted that the recommendations within the report have been collectively identified from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and subsequent engagement and prioritisation from the Food Partnership. The proposed recommendations will be delivered by Tower Hamlets Food which is a partnership of organisations and individuals taking action for “good” food for everyone in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

v  Noted that by “good” it means that food in Tower Hamlets is available and celebrated - neighbourhoods are brimming with opportunities to buy, sell, grow, share, and celebrate tasty, culturally appropriate food.

v  Was informed that Tower Hamlets Food is working so that all local people can access nutritious, culturally appropriate, and affordable food with dignity. Their Keep Growing campaign has helped people to grow their own food during the first Covid lockdown. Anyone can access the resources developed, including videos and blogs on all stages of organic growing, and working with communities on a transition to an environmentally sustainable local food system.

v  Indicated that it felt it was beneficial to have communities that are inspired and empowered to develop good food knowledge, skills, resources, better welfare standards as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

v  Noted that the Covid-19 crisis made life even harder for many after thousands were made redundant, lost income on the furlough scheme and faced higher living costs in lockdown. In addition, with the planned benefit cuts and soaring fuel prices, people on low incomes will be facing a difficult winter. This means that many will struggle to afford the food they need and will be forced to rely on food banks. Whilst some will find it difficult to pay for household bills, transport, or internet connections.

v  Agreed that the problem however is not exclusive to unemployed people. In-work poverty hit a record high just before the pandemic, with experts citing low pay, expensive rent, and meagre benefit payments for the number of families trapped in poverty despite having jobs. Whilst those families relying on benefits will face an annual £1,040 income cut in September 2021 when the planned Universal Credit decrease goes ahead.

v  Questioned how people that are vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition are identified

v  Were keen to see Tower Hamlets become somewhere that those residents facing or at risk of food poverty have easy and affordable access to healthy food within walking distance of their home.

v  Wished to see the maximisation of the potential of school catering contractual arrangements to improve child health and educational attainment.

v  Considered that Food pantries with their weekly support network through a membership scheme that provides a longer-term option when compared to food banks by giving people a choice of fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat. As opposed to Food banks which are only able to provide short term, occasional support to those families suffering from food poverty.

v  Wanted to see Food pantries providing culturally appropriate and sustaining food.

v  Noted that while food pantries share the aim of helping people on low incomes, the approach is very different to food banks. It is not a supplier of emergency food parcels like a food bank; instead, it strives to offer longer-term support, based on the idea that for many in the age of austerity and falling living standards, poverty and food insecurity are chronic or reoccurring, rather than a temporary problem.

v  Agreed that with food pantries there is a dignity in paying, rather than being given to and the food offer is better in terms of quality, variety, and freshness – and people have choice, within constraints.

v  Noted that food boxes provided by food pantries are built around recipes, booklets, and information on healthy food.

v  Agreed that it: (i) wanted more information on the local food pantry’s and kitchens e.g. the viability of accessing school kitchens once having addressed the issue of those schools who had been redeveloped through the private finance initiative (PFI); and (ii) the aspirations and preferences of the former MOW users now entering the social care system.  

Following a full and wide-ranging discussion, the Chair thanked all those in attendance for their contributions to a very useful discussions on this critical issue.

Accordingly, the Committee resolved to note that the key points for the Committee are to receive:

1.    More information on the local food pantry model and proposed placements in the Borough, as well as to understand how they may factor in community kitchens (Inc the viability of accessing school kitchens once having addressed the issue of those schools who had been redeveloped through the private finance initiative (PFI); and

2.    Details on how the aspirations and preferences of the former MOW users now entering the social care system are being fully addressed