Merton’s Food Poverty Action Plan (2023-2026) seeks to achieve a strong, coordinated and strategic partnership approach to tackling people’s inability to afford, or have access to, quality food for a healthy diet. It builds on the existing work of the active community and voluntary sector in Merton to tackle food poverty locally, including improving signposting and joining up existing assets as well as reducing and re-using surplus food in the borough.
Food poverty (also known as food insecurity) describes the situation in which an individual or household has difficulties accessing sufficient, safe, culturally appropriate and nutritious food to meet dietary requirements and preferences for a healthy life due to both the affordability of food and its accessibility within local communities.
It is recognised that food poverty is not a stand-alone issue, but is closely linked with, and a result of a wide range of other forms of disadvantage including fuel poverty, low income, unemployment, social deprivation and ill-health or disability.