Published on Friday 27 September 2019
Following growing concerns around food insecurity across the area, BCP Council has agreed to fund a new Community Food Co-ordinator role to work in partnership with other agencies to tackle the issue.
The role was announced by Council Leader Vikki Slade at a Dorset Hidden Hunger conference in Poole this week.
The co-ordinator would work with the existing network of voluntary food agencies and third sector organisations to raise awareness of the support in place in many communities and to share resources available more widely.
Part of the role will be to look at the potential of creating a Community Food App. This will help people to find out where donations are available, where people can donate and also offer a range of other activities around healthy food.
Council Leader, Vikki Slade, said: "It is quite extraordinary how in the 21stcentury we are facing a growing hidden hunger and food insecurity issue. There is a great number in our communities who do struggle to feed themselves for a variety of reasons and through this role we have the chance to work with a fantastic network of agencies out there to offer greater support.
"There is already a number of community fridge initiatives which we want to expand. We also offer cooking skills workshops, advice on finding food on a budget and direct people to where they can access free food resources. There are lots of ways in fact we can support some of our very vulnerable individuals and families."
She added: "It is very easy to dismiss we have a problem in this country but as a Council working with our partners such as Public Health Dorset and community groups we have recognised the need to take action. I am delighted that we are able to offer support in this way."