Food Poverty in London How the Covid-19 Pandemic has Devastated Food Security
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, food poverty has drastically increased in all of the UK. Already vulnerable communities are suffering the most, and the numbers of people relying on food banks have gone through the roof.
\nIn this episode, Muddassar Ahmed sits down with local activists and politicians in East London to discuss the devastating effects of Covid-19 on food security. Our panellists include Rushanara Ali (Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green and Bow), Mariam Dawood (Councillor in the London Borough of Newham), Hibo Wardere (anti-FGM Campaigner and Activist) and Jon May (Professor at Queen Mary University and Founding Trustee of Bow Food Bank).
\nThe discussion was organised with the Bow Food Bank, one of London's largest independent food banks, with locations in Bow and Bethnal Green. The local area has a poverty rate of 39%, the highest in London as well as the country's highest child poverty rate. The panel was joined by trustees and volunteers of the food bank to discuss how to tackle these issues.
\nThe Bow Food Bank has stayed open even during national lockdowns feeding the members of the local community. Now with the end of the lockdown approaching, the question of how to end food insecurity remains.
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