Women’s Policy Group Calls for Urgent Action to End Reliance on Food Banks

09 Sept - Women and girls are being pushed deeper into poverty by an inadequate social security system, WPG warns

The WRDA led Women’s Policy Group (WPG) has today submitted evidence to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Inquiry on Ending the Need for Food Banks, calling for urgent reform of the social security system and stronger action to tackle poverty across the UK.

In its submission, the WPG argues that food banks should never have become a permanent feature of society and warns that their growing use reflects a benefits system that is failing to provide enough income for people to meet their basic needs.

The WPG's evidence highlights the experiences of women across Northern Ireland who are struggling to afford essentials such as food, heating, clothing and healthcare, despite receiving benefits. The group stresses that poverty is not gender-neutral and that women are disproportionately affected because they are more likely to be in low-paid or insecure work, undertake unpaid caring responsibilities, and rely on social security support.

The submission points to extensive evidence showing that current Universal Credit levels do not cover the real cost of living. Women interviewed in research carried out by WRDA and the Women's Regional Consortium described being forced to choose between heating and eating, cutting back on food, and going without essential services and healthcare.

The WPG also highlights Northern Ireland's unique challenges, including entrenched poverty, the ongoing legacy of conflict, underinvestment in public services, and the absence of key measures such as an Anti-Poverty Strategy and affordable childcare strategy.

As part of its recommendations, the WPG is calling for:

• An independent process to determine minimum Universal Credit rates based on the real cost of essentials.

• Greater involvement of people with lived experience of poverty in shaping social security policy.

• Action to address the wider drivers of poverty, including low pay, insecure work, debt, caring responsibilities and gender inequality.

• Meaningful and ongoing engagement with communities affected by poverty rather than tokenistic consultation exercises.

The group points to Scotland's Social Security Experience Panels as an example of how governments can successfully involve people with direct experience of the benefits system in designing policy.

The Women's Policy Group is urging policymakers to recognise that ending the need for food banks requires more than emergency food provision. It requires tackling the root causes of poverty and ensuring that social security provides an adequate standard of living for everyone.

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-ENDS-‍ ‍

Contact:

Elaine Crory
Women's Sector Lobbyist, WRDA
Email: elaine.crory@wrda.net

Meghan Hoyt
Women's Sector Lobbyist Policy Assistant, WRDA
Email: meghan.hoyt@wrda.net