PhD Student: Eleanor Ansell; Partner: Birmingham City Council; Supervisors: Prof. Miranda Pallan and Dr. Marie Murphy; School: Institute of Applied Health Research.
Food insecurity is characterised by the lack of physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for a healthy and active lifestyle. Food insecurity has significantly increased in the UK, with rates rising from 15% in 2020 to 25% in 2023. Certain populations, including diverse ethnic communities, low-income households and families, and households with disabled individuals, are at higher risk of food insecurity. The health and social implications of food insecurity for children and adolescents are significant, leading to poor nutrition, frequent school absences, lower educational achievement, and negative physical and mental health outcomes.
Support to address food insecurity includes formal aid (e.g., food banks) and informal sources like schools, faith-based groups, and family networks. Free School Meals (FSM) are considered a critical intervention, but eligibility criteria for children aged 7 and over limit access. Over 20% of children who are not eligible for FSM are food insecure. Schools aim to support pupil welfare by providing or facilitating access to food for families, but support for those facing food insecurity is inconsistent and fragmented. There is a need to better understand the available support, how families engage with it, and where their needs remain unmet.
In Birmingham, higher food insecurity rates are seen among certain ethnic groups, yet it is argued that some ethnic minority communities are shielded from the negative effects of food insecurity or poverty due to strong family and social support networks, for example, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. There is limited evidence supporting this theory, and research is needed to understand cultural differences in how families access formal and informal food aid.
Food insecurity, like poverty, is often transient and influenced by several factors such as employment and financial pressures. While recent quantitative studies have assessed the stability of food insecurity by examining its availability, accessibility, and utilization over time, longitudinal qualitative studies may offer deeper insights into families’ experiences of food insecurity and their decision-making processes regarding support options.
The project focuses on three research questions:
• How do schools provide formal/informal support to children and families experiencing food insecurity?
• How do families in different cultural community’s access support when experiencing food insecurity?
• How and why does food insecurity, and support for food insecurity, vary over the calendar year in families with children?
Working in conjunction with the Birmingham City Council Food System Team, the project uses a mixed-method approach, including surveys, interviews, and novel qualitative techniques to assess the effectiveness and variation of support in place for families experiencing food insecurity. As well as identifying gaps in the provision of formal food aid and types of informal food aid being accessed in the Birmingham area. This project will provide crucial insights to guide local authorities, schools, and communities in addressing food insecurity, increasing resilience, and ensuring approaches, pathways and solutions are inclusive of all communities and tackle inequalities.