Working to embed dignity into community food support.

WHAT IS THE ALLIANCE FOR DIGNIFIED FOOD SUPPORT?

Dignity - a person’s right to be valued and respected – is essential for good human relations, individual self worth and wellbeing. Dignity is negatively affected by conditions of poverty and food insecurity, and research shows that people who use community food support frequently experience trauma. Community Food Support, including food banks, community fridges, pantries and social supermarkets, should attempt to counter, rather than deepen, that loss of dignity.

The Alliance for Dignified Food Support is a coalition of community food organisers, local food partnerships, academics, and activists committed to integrating dignity into food support provision.

Community food support, no matter how dignified, is not the solution to food insecurity. The DWP’s Family Resources Survey recently found that as many as 86% of households reporting severe food insecurity (in the previous 30 days) did not use a food bank. However at the moment, over two thousand community food support organisations are in operation across the UK, a situation which is unlikely to change in the immediate future.   

Our aim is to support organisations to make their practice as dignified as possible, whilst also championing other anti-poverty strategies including support for a living income through social security payments, increased wages and a cash first approach.

We propose four core Dignity Principles, each illustrated by a range of evidence-based suggestions for how these might be implemented in practice. 

The Dignity Principles are about adopting mindsets, practices and policies that emphasise dignity for all involved in community food support, including members, volunteers, and staff.

DIGNITY PRINCIPLES

Explore each principle by clicking the plus sign. Learn more about the full principles here.

  • Providing an inclusive and welcoming space; minimising barriers to access; providing spaces to share food.

  • Offering clarity about what those providing and receiving support can expect; providing information about the community food project, how it works and why.

  • Ensuring that interactions are respectful and compassionate; including appropriate safeguarding culture and practices; where possible, offering a choice of food (or the provision of vouchers and hardship grants).

  • Offering opportunities for staff, volunteers and members to share their views, so that people with direct and relevant experience contribute and are involved in decision-making; creating opportunities for members to contribute in a range of ways (money, time, skills, etc.).

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