To help limit further transmission of COVID-19, the government must prioritise a ‘cash first’ approach to food insecurity rather than relying on food aid

Independent Food Aid Network calls for ring-fenced funding for local authorities across the UK to enable them to provide cash grants

The government must prioritise a 'cash first' approach to food insecurity, as opposed to relying on food aid, in order to limit further transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) has said.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, IFAN highlights that the new highly contagious strain of COVID-19 is putting food bank staff, volunteers and the people they support at increased risk of infection, and warns - 

'The distribution of emergency food parcels cannot address worsening poverty and, in the context of escalating infection rates, their provision could well contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the UK population.'

Pointing out that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure people are able to afford to buy food for themselves and their families - and not food aid charities - IFAN calls for a 'cash first' approach including - 

• ensuring there is adequate ring-fenced funding for all local authorities across all UK regions to provide easily accessible and well-promoted cash grants directly to individuals and families unable to afford food and other essentials, including those with no recourse to public funds;
• making the £20 'uplift' to universal credit permanent and extending it to legacy benefits;
• ending the five-week wait for a first universal credit payment by removing the loan element of advance payments;
• removing the benefit cap;
• ending the two-child limit;
• permanently suspending the 'no recourse to public funds' status; and
• ensuring a real Living Wage is paid across the UK.

For more information see the Urgent request to reduce need for emergency food aid as new Covid-19 variant increases risks.