More than just a survey – A decade of insight into food support services in Brighton & Hove

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Brighton & Hove Food Partnership

Every Summer since 2014, food bank staff and volunteers have put aside time in their busy schedules to take stock – In one week in July, how much food was provided, and where did it come from? How many people were served, and is demand increasing? Is there sufficient food supply and funding secured to keep the service running? What wider campaign and policy action would help? 

Over 50 projects across more than 60 locations submit their answers to these questions and more. The Food Partnership compiles the data to paint a city-wide picture of food support provision and need. 

This combined insight proves that food insecurity is widespread, with the 2024 report revealing 6,300 people received support weekly in our city. Beyond the statistics, interviews and case studies offer a platform for those involved to share their experiences, challenges, and hopes. 

With such an important job to do we don’t ask for the food projects’ time lightly. Poverty is a pressing concern, and the report makes sure those tackling it in their communities are heard. As we prepare to launch the survey for 2025, here are some ways that the Emergency Food Network Report has made a real difference so far. 

Keeping the issue of food poverty on the agenda 

• Our networks want a future where crisis food support is no longer a necessity. We use the combined data to raise awareness of the scale of the issue and the nature of support provided by volunteer food projects. Nationally, Brighton and Hove is one of the few places that can provide a picture of change over time at a city scale, a valuable insight. 

• We share the report with Councillors, MPs and influential people within the statutory, community and business sectors. We press release the findings and do interviews with local media, with stories picked up nationally by BBC News Online. 

Secure donations of time, money and food 

• The combined city data is used to attract supporters for the annual Food SOS campaign, including 18 schools and educational providers in 2024.  

• We have raised funds that are shared between frontline groups via joint Crowdfunding campaigns. 

• We highlight which projects are looking for volunteers in our fortnightly newsletter and promote group volunteering opportunities to businesses. 

Influence decisions at the city level  

• The data and recommendations informed Brighton & Hove City Council’s Cost of Living Action Plan. The evidence of the scale of the ongoing need means this is recognised in the city’s needs assessment (which informs commissioning decisions) and there is a Food Insecurity Group that meets quarterly to co-ordinate cross department work at BHCC.  

• We were able to ensure that funding for community food projects was one route that Household Support Funding was allocated locally (other places only allow funds to go out via the local authority). BHCC use the data to help decide how to most effectively allocate this money. 

• The survey allows changing trends in who needs food support to be identified. It means we can spot gaps in provision across the city and for different equalities groups. We then support projects to adapt or reach out to other organisations to help. 

• When there was an uptick in the number of students using food banks, we worked with the two universities to improve in-house support and increase awareness of the support available to students. 

• Increases in number of people in work needing food support has led to changed opening times for projects. 

• In order to better understand the needs of Black and Racially Minoritised People, a specialist organisation Bridging Change was commissioned to do research.  

• We put on training based on what groups tell us they need, including food hygiene, first aid, and how to manage difficult situations. 

Campaign for policy change locally and nationally 

Nationally, we have used the data to lobby government for updates to social security payments, free school meal eligibility and for a multi-year crisis and resilience fund to improve on the 6-monthly Household Support Fund. Whilst this work is far from complete – we are helping to keep the pressure on and to raise awareness of how fragile the volunteer led safety net currently is. 

On behalf of the network, the Food Partnership submits responses to consultations including the Children’s Society Enquiry into the impact of Household Support Funding. We have reported to All Party Parliamentary Groups, met with senior officials from the DWP and provided data to national campaigning organisations, like The Food Foundation. 

The Food Foundation relies on data and research from local organisations like the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership’s Emergency Food Network survey to campaign to end food poverty. This includes our campaign to extend eligibility for Free School Meals. 

The frontline perceptive and constituency level data is vital to build a strong picture and feeds into our national policy work. This allows us to write powerful briefings for MP’s and civil servants, provide accurate information to the media and publish regular reports to help make the case for urgent action from Government. 

We have a broken food system but working together we can make the case for change.