“I felt very worried going in. I thought, do I need to give false details in case they actually report me and say, ‘This woman can’t afford pasta, can you take her son away.’ I was terrified.”
“It’s not easy to ask for help… and then when you do, you’re always worrying in the queue: Is somebody going to drive past that you know from the work? Is somebody going to phone my daughter and say, I’ve seen your mum at the food bank queue? It’s just constant… I just wasn’t comfortable with the whole experience at all.”
Since the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis, food insecurity has surged in the UK. Recent surveys indicate that 15% of all households, and a staggering 25% of households with children, face regular struggles to afford sufficient food. As more people turn to food banks and other community support, many still avoid seeking help due to the stigma and shame associated with charitable food aid. The charity sector, burdened by resource constraints, faces the dual challenge of responding to surging demand, whilst also supporting individuals who experience profound emotional trauma from food insecurity.
Hunger Trauma
Our research (Walker et al., 2022) reveals the concept of “hunger trauma,” where food-insecure individuals suffer emotional distress, often accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt. Many people facing food insecurity feel stripped of their social worth, grappling with humiliation over their situation, and guilt over their inability to provide for their families. These painful feelings can often become overwhelming, leading to constant worry, sleepless nights, and, for some, even suicidal thoughts. For parents, this trauma can be especially profound, intensifying feelings of failure for not being able to provide the life they want for their children.
This trauma isn’t limited to those receiving food support; it also affects those who volunteer to help. In our most recent research (Walker et al., 2024, in press), we found that many food support volunteers experience moral distress from witnessing the humiliation, shame, and hardship endured by those in need. Volunteers often report feeling betrayed by economic and political systems that have failed the communities they serve, and some face burnout, guilt, and distress as they struggle to manage the intense moral conflicts involved in providing support under difficult conditions.
At the core of this issue lies the legacy of austerity, rising poverty, and a fractured social security system. While food banks have become the default response to food insecurity, they are far from a solution. Dependency on community food support erodes dignity, often compounded by referral processes which require people to “prove” their need.
One person we spoke to said that, “You learn to be invisible, to be less than yourself.”
A More Dignified Approach
This loss of dignity can be minimised by creating more respectful, empowering, and compassionate spaces, but as yet, no single approach across the UK has effectively addressed these issues at a systemic level.
To tackle this, we founded the Alliance for Dignified Food Support, a coalition of support organisers, local food partnerships, academics, and activists committed to promoting a more dignified approach. Based on research and lived experiences, we’ve developed a dignity charter and a toolkit to help food support providers audit their practice, make simple but powerful changes, and to reflect on the impact. Our vision of a dignified food support system emphasises four key principles:
- Welcoming: Creating environments that reduce barriers and combat the stigma around accessing support
- Transparent: Setting clear expectations for what both providers and recipients can expect
- Person Centred: Ensuring that every interaction upholds individuals’ dignity
- Empowering: Fostering supportive environments, where recipients can make meaningful contributions and are given choice
Our work is underpinned by a belief that community food support, no matter how dignified, will never be the solution to widespread poverty. Only by ensuring that social security payments and wages are in line with living costs can we truly free people from the need for charitable food aid.
Ultimately, it is imperative that we all continue to work together towards the broader social change required to address the root causes of food insecurity: Dignity will only truly be restored when all can afford and have access to good food. However, whilst the UK’s social security system and food support infrastructure may not change in the short term, focusing on dignity can lessen the burden on those experiencing poverty and help build stronger communities. A dignity-centred approach aligns with food justice frameworks and the fundamental right to food, reducing access barriers, while empowering everyone involved in the food support process. That surely should be good news for everyone in the here and now.
To learn more about the Alliance for Dignified Food Support, or to sign up to receive our free Dignity Toolkit, please visit our website.
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Reclaiming Dignity in Food Support: Addressing the Hidden Cost of Hunger
by Carl Walker Jan 15, 2025Since the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent cost-of-living crisis, food insecurity has surged in the UK. Recent surveys indicate that 15% of all households, and a staggering 25% of households with children, face regular struggles to afford sufficient food. As more people turn to food banks and other community support, many still avoid seeking help due to the stigma and shame associated with charitable food aid. The charity sector, burdened by resource constraints, faces the dual challenge of responding to surging demand, whilst also supporting individuals who experience profound emotional trauma from food insecurity.
Hunger Trauma
Our research (Walker et al., 2022) reveals the concept of “hunger trauma,” where food-insecure individuals suffer emotional distress, often accompanied by feelings of shame and guilt. Many people facing food insecurity feel stripped of their social worth, grappling with humiliation over their situation, and guilt over their inability to provide for their families. These painful feelings can often become overwhelming, leading to constant worry, sleepless nights, and, for some, even suicidal thoughts. For parents, this trauma can be especially profound, intensifying feelings of failure for not being able to provide the life they want for their children.
This trauma isn’t limited to those receiving food support; it also affects those who volunteer to help. In our most recent research (Walker et al., 2024, in press), we found that many food support volunteers experience moral distress from witnessing the humiliation, shame, and hardship endured by those in need. Volunteers often report feeling betrayed by economic and political systems that have failed the communities they serve, and some face burnout, guilt, and distress as they struggle to manage the intense moral conflicts involved in providing support under difficult conditions.
At the core of this issue lies the legacy of austerity, rising poverty, and a fractured social security system. While food banks have become the default response to food insecurity, they are far from a solution. Dependency on community food support erodes dignity, often compounded by referral processes which require people to “prove” their need.
One person we spoke to said that, “You learn to be invisible, to be less than yourself.”
A More Dignified Approach
This loss of dignity can be minimised by creating more respectful, empowering, and compassionate spaces, but as yet, no single approach across the UK has effectively addressed these issues at a systemic level.
To tackle this, we founded the Alliance for Dignified Food Support, a coalition of support organisers, local food partnerships, academics, and activists committed to promoting a more dignified approach. Based on research and lived experiences, we’ve developed a dignity charter and a toolkit to help food support providers audit their practice, make simple but powerful changes, and to reflect on the impact. Our vision of a dignified food support system emphasises four key principles:
Our work is underpinned by a belief that community food support, no matter how dignified, will never be the solution to widespread poverty. Only by ensuring that social security payments and wages are in line with living costs can we truly free people from the need for charitable food aid.
Ultimately, it is imperative that we all continue to work together towards the broader social change required to address the root causes of food insecurity: Dignity will only truly be restored when all can afford and have access to good food. However, whilst the UK’s social security system and food support infrastructure may not change in the short term, focusing on dignity can lessen the burden on those experiencing poverty and help build stronger communities. A dignity-centred approach aligns with food justice frameworks and the fundamental right to food, reducing access barriers, while empowering everyone involved in the food support process. That surely should be good news for everyone in the here and now.
To learn more about the Alliance for Dignified Food Support, or to sign up to receive our free Dignity Toolkit, please visit our website.