The Scottish Government’s cash-first plan for delivering social security focuses on “ending the need for food banks”. This is a phrase that has concerned a few food banks I’ve spoken to in the Highlands and Islands. “We will always be needed,” they say – or “it’s just not possible to prevent every situation that leads to someone needing an emergency food parcel”.
I do agree with them, but I also think the goal is the right one. They might seem contradictory positions, but as someone who has needed to use food banks on a few occasions, I thought it’d be helpful to explore what the plan title actually means.
We know that using a food bank means that you don’t have money, time, or the access to buy food and, instead, a food bank has provided some to you. There shouldn’t be shame in making use of a food bank. The first time I did, my mother had been taken into hospital unexpectedly and family members nearby hadn’t arrived yet or been contactable. I took my little sister over the road to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and we left with some food and tokens for the nearby Morrisons. If I remember correctly, we bought doughnuts to go along with the essentials – of course we did, we were teenagers.
The next time I used food banks, I couldn’t see an immediate way out. All of the income from my temp job was going on rent for my new studio flat, which had no hot water and a stubborn landlord who was in no rush to fix the boiler. I had spent days eating nothing but off-brand Belvita biscuits and tins of sweetcorn found in the cupboard. Between travelling to and from work, working, keeping up my voluntary role, and applying for higher-paying jobs I didn’t expect to be successful for, I couldn’t do what the leaflets suggested and bus around shopping for deals at multiple supermarkets.
I have some good memories from using those parcels; like that immediate relief, one thing ticked off the stressful, unending list in my brain. But I couldn’t see how I’d ever be able to buy my own food again – I didn’t know when I would stop needing this help, or how long they’d keep giving me it.
A lot of people end up in that position. There’s no fix to work on, nothing specific to ask for. You’re working hard, there’s no more time in the day, but there still isn’t the money in the bank to cover everything you need. Those are the people most likely to benefit from “ending the need for foodbanks”.
It shouldn’t be the case that people must rely on canned food from a third party to keep living. That their work doesn’t pay enough to cover food, or travelling to work takes the money that they would have spent eating or heating their home, or that their landlord can, on a whim, demand the rest of their monthly budget from now on.
In the Highlands and Islands, many were struggling with a cost-of-living crisis before it hit the whole country. From unfair delivery charges that essentially treat the region as if it is another country, to the extra cost on top of food, toiletries, and petrol that we are used to, living here often simply costs more.
The SNP’s plans aren’t about saying nobody should ever struggle, or face periods of extra costs, or be able to seek help. It’s about looking at the root causes of food bank use and tackling them. Because it’s not fun, using a food bank. It might take away a stress or two for a while, but you don’t get to pick what you’re eating, it doesn’t fix the situation, and you might even face stigma while doing it – a fear that prevents many from taking the step of asking for help.
That’s why the SNP prefers a cash-first approach that gives people money, like the Scottish Child Payment, so they can decide how to spend it and ensure they can find food that meets their dietary and cultural requirements – and their own personal preference.
Our vision looks at all of the things that trap people in cashflow issues – low pay, unfair costs, unexpected expenses – and makes suggestions about tackling them.
For example, a Minimum Income Guarantee could make sure that no matter where you work, what you’re paid, or how many hours you can do over and above the caring you do for a family member, you still have enough money to eat.
Best Start Grants and the baby box ensure that babies all get an equal start in life – no matter their situation, parents should be able to look after, clothe, and feed their new child. The Scottish Child Payment gives parents on low incomes a little extra money to cover what their kid needs. Free bus and inter-island ferry travel ensure people can get to work and school without breaking the bank.
There’s a lot more to do to keep housing, energy bills, and travel affordable, but that’s really what “ending the need for food banks” means. I believe there’ll still be a need for people to access emergency support – but, really, most shouldn’t have to. And food banks could focus on the other vital support they offer – a helping hand and a sense of community.
Sadly, many of the other actions we could take are reserved to the UK Government. We can’t change energy policy, fix Universal Credit, or improve employment protections. That’s why I’ve always campaigned for independence – I love what we’re doing with the levers we’ve got, but there’s so much more that could be done with a little more power and political will to put a stop to the common situations people face that lead them to needing emergency parcels for extended periods of time.
