The issue of food poverty in the South Cotswolds has never been more prominent than it is right now. The global pandemic, followed by the war in the Ukraine and rising costs in food, fuel and energy has create a storm which impact everyone.
For a decade, Cirencester Foodbank has been describing the growing issue of food insecurity in the South Cotswolds. In 2012, the opening of the foodbank was met with disbelief that there were people going hungry in the ‘affluent’ Cotswolds.
Year-on-year the awareness of the issue has grown, but so too has the problem. What has become clearer since this report was first published is the diversity of people in need and complexities of their crisis.
Cirencester Foodbank has produced this report to share what we are seeing as we work to support households facing food poverty. We believe it is only one small piece of a larger jigsaw. However, by working together with those living in our communities, those serving our communities and those support our communities, it may help to provide important and useful information that can be added to the parts of the jigsaw they are able to see.
You can watch an edited version of the report here and use this link to download the report in PDF format.