We developed a community led research collaboration in relation to Child Food Poverty in Oxfordshire. We aimed to use this model to expand into other areas of need across the UK, including the East of England.
Background
One in three children in the UK live with daily food insecurity. Lack of access to nutritious food during pregnancy and infancy (the first 1,000 days), early years, school age, and adolescence (the first 8,000 days of life: 0–19 years) has life-long health and socioeconomic consequences. It is essential to ensure access to affordable, nutritious and sustainable food for all children to fulfil their full educational potential and thrive into adulthood. With the rise in energy prices and cost of living crisis, more families now require emergency food provision, which can be associated with significant stigma. Providing universal food services is one way of reducing stigma. There is now an ideal policy window to address the systemic issues affecting child food poverty locally and nationally and ensure optimal nutrition of all children.
Project Aims
- To bring together key stakeholders and enact action around Child Food Poverty locally.
- To understand the priorities for action on child food poverty and advocate for these.
- To disseminate learning and mobilise knowledge over a larger geography.
Project Activity
- Consensus building and stakeholder engagement workshops were held to consider the strategies involved in improving Child Wellbeing
Methodology
Consensus building and stakeholder engagement workshops.
Progress / key findings so far
This Project has now been completed and we are applying for ongoing funding to disseminate key learnings.
Outputs
- A national Public Policy Exchange presentation was delivered on this work.
- Local policy initiatives and ongoing community-led research are also taking place in Oxfordshire.
Papers and resources
Who is involved?
Shobhana Nagraj (University of Cambridge)
Contact
Shobhana Nagraj, sn378@cam.ac.uk
