“Taking from Peter to pay Paul”: The experience of people in receipt of fuel and food vouchers from a UK Foodbank

Hanson, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4751-8248, Belderson, Pippa, Player, Emily, Minihane, Anne-Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9042-4226 and Sweeting, Anna (2023) “Taking from Peter to pay Paul”: The experience of people in receipt of fuel and food vouchers from a UK Foodbank. Nutrition Bulletin. ISSN 1471-9827 (In Press)

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Abstract

For people on very low incomes, household fuel and food environments are increasingly uncertain. Many live in precarious situations with little control over their lives. In addition to food parcels, many foodbanks also supply emergency fuel payments. There has been a surge in demand due to the cost-of-living crisis in the UK. This qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, explored the lived experience of people who received a fuel voucher via a foodbank to gain insights into food preparation, eating practices and heating and appliance use in their homes. All participants (n=6) described a change in life circumstances leaving them at crisis point with overwhelming uncertainty. Using Thematic Analysis, we identified four themes: 1) Bewilderment in using foodbank services; 2) The need to make trade-offs between food and fuel; 3) Feeling shame at using the services and 4) Missing out on pleasurable eating practices. Three case studies give fuller insights and context. All interviewees had acute and complex needs and described being ‘at rock bottom’, with fuel vouchers viewed as a ‘lifeline’ to address essential cooking, heating and electrical appliance needs. We therefore suggest the need for extra support and follow-up for first-time users who are in a state of denial and shock when seeking help. Further research is needed in how to best help organisations develop strategies to address and ameliorate a sense of powerless and shame felt by their clients which likely limits them seeking help, despite being in acute, complex and dire need.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	inequalities,food insecurity,fuel insecurity,socio-economic factors,sdg 2 - zero hunger ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/zero_hunger
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Child Protection & Family Support Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Nutrition and Preventive Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2023 08:30
Last Modified:	11 Sep 2023 00:09
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/93007
DOI:

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