Co-op and Barnardo's are calling on local authorities to implement a food partnership in every community by 2030, and for young people’s voices to be at the heart of the decision making, as findings reveal that only half (54%) of local authorities in the UK are working with a food partnership - and a mere 13% said that their food partnership involved young people in decision-making.
Food partnerships are networks that bring together organisations such as local authorities, businesses, charities, community groups, and individuals to create fairer, healthier, and more sustainable local food systems. Food partnerships (FPs) are networks that bring together organisations such as local authorities, businesses, charities, community groups, and individuals to create fairer, healthier, and more sustainable local food systems. Just 28% of local authorities could confirm that their food partnership benefits young people.
Almost a quarter of young people (23%) have said they are unable to access healthy food in their own communities, with 1 in 5 young people – equivalent to 2.5 million – saying that they or their families have struggled to access or pay for food in the last six months.
Food partnerships can bring communities together to make sure everyone can access good, healthy food. But they aren’t working for young people because young people aren’t being involved. Instead, we’re being ignored.
Kyson
21 from Manchester who worked closely in the creation of this report
Shirine Khoury-Haq, CEO of The Co-operative Group, and Lynn Perry, CEO of Barnardo’s, said: “Food Partnerships can bring communities together to improve access to food, but not every community has one. Even those that do don’t always involve young people or give them a voice.
“By removing barriers, fostering meaningful participation, and empowering young people, we can support positive futures for them and their communities across the UK. We’re calling on our government, local authorities, businesses, and charities to take action, ensuring young people have a real voice - because their positive future is our shared responsibility.”
The report into FPs has been published against a backdrop of wider concerns for young people, as additional Co-op and Barnardo’s research found that fears for the future have become part of daily life for more than 1 in 3 (36%) young people across the UK.
In a survey about the hopes and ambitions of over 2,000 people aged 10-25, just 30% said they believe they will achieve their dream job, while more than a quarter (29%) said that they don’t feel positive about their future.
Almost half (46%) listed the rising cost of living as their biggest concern for the future. The findings also highlight the ongoing mental health challenges facing young people, with 45% of those surveyed saying they’ve experienced issues such as anxiety, stress, anger, panic attacks, loneliness or depression in the past six months – a rise from 41% just two years ago.
People don’t want to better themselves, because they think it’s impossible, or that it won't last. If you don’t have anything, nobody can take it away from you.
Brodey,
19 from Middlesborough, describing how easy it is to lose hope
As well as encouraging local authorities to step up support, Co-op and Barnardo’s have recently announced an extension to their partnership – aiming to raise £7 million and support positive futures for 1 million young people across the UK.
In Hurlford, Scotland, a Co-op and Barnardo’s service incorporates a food partnership through the provision of a community pantry - ‘Hurlford Helping Hands’. Young people were involved in every stage of the design and development process.
I thought setting up our [community pantry] project was quite exciting. That we were being listened to and that we had the chance to change our community. That doesn’t happen enough for young people, I wish there were more opportunities to do that.
Katie
16 from Hurlford
17-year-old Zack added: “There are so many people that are struggling in Hurlford – deciding between paying bills or buying food. So being able to help people with our pantry - it's been so good, just knowing that what we've done has made a difference.”
Andrew Forsey OBE, National Director of Feeding Britain, said: “When young people are given the chance to co-design initiatives which improve the affordability and accessibility of food – youth-led holiday clubs, and food clubs, for example – the results are stunningly good, with greater freedom, opportunity, and control placed into their hands. In that spirit, this report offers a map and compass for young people to lead our country out of the hunger crisis, once and for all.”