02/03/2024
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Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the LibDem candidate in the York & North Yorkshire's Mayoral elections, has announced her campaign pledge to tackle food poverty in the region.
Her zero-tolerance approach is driven by her key deliverable policy to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for residents. The commitment will ensure that food banks are adequately supported to continue with the essential service that they provide and that for those who canβt access the food banks a county-wide emergency distribution system would ensure no one goes without.
βAt the time of the 2019 election there were more food banks than McDonalds, and the situation has worsened since thenβ commented Felicity, noting that the Trussell Trustβs latest accounts show falling income against demand increasing by 560% βFood Banks are now commonplace. High-interest rates and the cost of living crisis is forcing many to go without food, even where they might have a full-time job.β
The emergency distribution system would be coordinated by the Mayoral Office, with a team of volunteers assisting with delivery. Assessments will identify immediate needs and those in crisis will be referred for further support. "Isolation and loneliness are significant issues, particularly post Covid. This scheme would not only alleviate hunger but create a community lifeline for those most in need."
Photo: Felicity Cunliffe-Lister with Michelle Hayes of Resurrected Bites, a community cafe and grocery operative in Harrogate. The charity usually relies on what would otherwise be going to waste from supermarkets and food producers, but more recently has been forced to buy in food to cope with rising demand.
