Abstract
One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is zero hunger. Yet, food insecurity across Britain has never been higher. Over fourteen million people are living in poverty (SMC, 2018), experiencing vulnerability on multiple dimensions. Statistics on UK community-based food aid are largely based on individuals who use the 1,200 emergency services provided by the Trussell Trust food banks. However, another 2,000 independent community-based food services operate independently (IFAN, 2018). The invisibility of independent community-based food aid providers and their clients are a challenge for policymakers and NGOs, which remains largely unaddressed.
In response, this research provides a more nuanced understanding of consumers’ temporal experiences of austerity and food access exclusion, including how liminal transitions (Kimball, 1960) occur and are managed, from a position of requiring food access support to potentially not needing it anymore. Further, while recognising the contested definition of ‘vulnerable’, the research also examines what additional types of support might be needed to facilitate these liminal transitions for individuals experiencing vulnerability. We address these research aims through an interpretive lens. The research involved twenty-four in-depth interviews with clients of food aid providers in the city of Birmingham and the Greater Manchester area.
Our research suggests nuanced, temporal experiences of austerity and food poverty, and flexibility in how vulnerable consumers navigate their period of liminality. We establish that prolonged liminality and the liminoid co-exist in food access exclusion, going against existing Trussell Trust discourses regarding food aid being a short-lived service. Further, liminal stigma emerges from the data, which is then counteracted by caring, non-judgemental food aid spaces, a sense of community, as well as ethical reciprocity among those experiencing vulnerability and the volunteers who enable food aid provision. We propose social policy recommendations aligned with Scotland’s Right to Food approach, and operational guidance for community-based food aid providers.
Keywords
Food poverty; liminality; vulnerable consumers; sustainable development goals;
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the British Academy Small Grants Funding Scheme 2018-19 and the University of Birmingham.
References
IFAN (2018). Mapping the UK’s Independent Food Banks. Independent Food Aid Network, London. Available at http://www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/mapping.
SMC (2018). A New Measure of Poverty for the UK. Social Metrics Commission, September, Legatum Institute, London.
In response, this research provides a more nuanced understanding of consumers’ temporal experiences of austerity and food access exclusion, including how liminal transitions (Kimball, 1960) occur and are managed, from a position of requiring food access support to potentially not needing it anymore. Further, while recognising the contested definition of ‘vulnerable’, the research also examines what additional types of support might be needed to facilitate these liminal transitions for individuals experiencing vulnerability. We address these research aims through an interpretive lens. The research involved twenty-four in-depth interviews with clients of food aid providers in the city of Birmingham and the Greater Manchester area.
Our research suggests nuanced, temporal experiences of austerity and food poverty, and flexibility in how vulnerable consumers navigate their period of liminality. We establish that prolonged liminality and the liminoid co-exist in food access exclusion, going against existing Trussell Trust discourses regarding food aid being a short-lived service. Further, liminal stigma emerges from the data, which is then counteracted by caring, non-judgemental food aid spaces, a sense of community, as well as ethical reciprocity among those experiencing vulnerability and the volunteers who enable food aid provision. We propose social policy recommendations aligned with Scotland’s Right to Food approach, and operational guidance for community-based food aid providers.
Keywords
Food poverty; liminality; vulnerable consumers; sustainable development goals;
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the British Academy Small Grants Funding Scheme 2018-19 and the University of Birmingham.
References
IFAN (2018). Mapping the UK’s Independent Food Banks. Independent Food Aid Network, London. Available at http://www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/mapping.
SMC (2018). A New Measure of Poverty for the UK. Social Metrics Commission, September, Legatum Institute, London.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | 8th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Oct 2019 |
| Event | 8th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business - University of Minho, Braga, Portugal Duration: 24 Oct 2019 → 25 Oct 2019 https://csr2022.sanfi.org/#:~:text=This%20event%2C%20which%20will%20(for,latest%20research%20on%20any%20topic |
Conference
| Conference | 8th International Conference on Social Responsibility, Ethics and Sustainable Business |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Portugal |
| City | Braga |
| Period | 24/10/19 → 25/10/19 |
| Internet address |
