Coventry University professor works with charity to tackle food poverty
A sociologist from Coventry University has partnered with a national charity to tackle food poverty and social isolation in the UK.
FoodCycle runs more than 60 community dining projects across the country, where they turn surplus supermarket food into free, nutritious, cooked meals.
Their report into food insecurity and isolation uncovered that 96% of people had never heard of community dining, but one in two would go along to a project in their area.
It also found that three in five Britons believe not enough is being done by local authorities to support these schemes, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis.
The author of the report, Dr Marsha Smith, is an expert in social eating and food systems.
She believes that eating together is important in sustaining not just the physical body, but in creating a sense of belonging and community cohesiveness.
Dr Marsha Smith, from Coventry University, said: "To tackle the cost-of-living crisis, food waste and the rise in the number of people feeling socially isolated, community dining is the solution.
"There's lots of reasons why more and more people are finding it difficult to eat together in groups. But we know that it's really beneficial, not just for people's health, but for their mental health, and for community cohesion."
She added: "When we think about climate change, the cost-of-living and energy crisis, and also the food shortages we've been having over the last couple of years - it makes sense to think about eating together in groups.
"It's not just an activity for poor people and thinking about it like that is really stigmatizing. Everybody needs to eat together in groups."
Dr Smith is now working with the charity to call on the government, local councils, and organisations to support the nationwide programme and to promote community dining.
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