The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed a £10 million programme to improve access to affordable, healthy food in 45 of England's most deprived areas, with each participating council set to receive £222,000.
The Good Food Neighbourhoods Programme targets locations with the highest levels of deprivation and childhood obesity, including major cities such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester, as well as Barnsley, Blackpool, Middlesbrough and parts of London. The scheme is designed to give families the "room to breathe they need on the cost of living" and will support initiatives including mobile greengrocers, community food shops, community kitchens, lunch clubs, and cooking and nutrition programmes.
Context of Food Insecurity
Food poverty affects 1 in 8 households in the UK, according to a July report from the Food Foundation, which found that 1 in 8 homes were experiencing food insecurity. This occurs when people skip meals, eat less, or go without food for a whole day because they cannot afford or access food.
In some parts of Britain, accessing healthy food at affordable prices can be very difficult. Dominic Watters, a PhD researcher, told the Food Foundation: "On the council estate where I live, even today, you can buy blueberry vapes but not blueberries. This demonstrates how our food system can provide access to flavour without access to nutrition."
Government Response and Funding
The government says that a total of 9 per cent of people lived in "food insecure" households in 2024/25, and that children in the most deprived communities are much more likely to experience obesity and other health inequalities.
The plan came under scrutiny after Northern Irish MP Jim Shannon asked the department what the government is doing to make locally produced food more affordable. In a response issued last week, Defra minister Stephen Morgan said: "Defra is supporting access to healthy and affordable food through its Good Food Neighbourhoods Programme. This is a £10m fund to support families with the cost of living in some of the most deprived neighbourhoods of England, being delivered by local authorities."
Morgan added: "In addition, Defra has awarded £775,000 between 5 local authorities to improve how food is procured, increase the provision of healthier and more sustainable food options, and support local and small food businesses to understand better how to supply to the public sector."
List of 45 Areas
The scheme aims to split the £10m pot between the 45 areas, with each local council receiving £222,000 to develop solutions that meet local needs. The government believes this will put decision-making and resources "directly in the hands of local leaders who know their communities best."
The IGD, the institute for the food and drink industry, has welcomed the scheme, saying the challenge was "whether people can reliably access affordable food that supports their health, and whether the places they live make that easier or harder."
The full list of councils taking part is: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Rossendale Borough Council, Blackpool Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Luton Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, Hull City Council, London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council, Manchester City Council, South Holland District Council, Sandwell Council, Pendle Borough Council, Gloucester City Council, Knowsley Council, Salford City Council, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Middlesbrough Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham City Council, Newham Council, Peterborough City Council, Enfield London Borough Council, Walsall Council, Slough Borough Council, Fenland District Council, City of Doncaster Council, Bassetlaw District Council, Hartlepool Borough Council, Boston Borough Council, North Lincolnshire Council, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Wolverhampton City Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Burnley Borough Council, South Tyneside Council, Nottingham City Council, Bolsover District Council, North East Lincolnshire Council, Ashfield District Council, Stoke-on-Trent Council, Mansfield District Council, Sunderland City Council, City of Lincoln Council, Harlow Council and Liverpool City Council.
