TY - JOUR

T1 - The food bank: A safety-net in place of welfare security in times of austerity and the Covid-19 crisis

AU - Beck, David

AU - Gwilym, Hefin

N1 - no embargo upon publication?

PY - 2023/7

Y1 - 2023/7

N2 - The food bank has become a charitable safety-net for those who have been failed by the social security system in times of austerity and during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this article we evidence the rise of food banking in the context of declining social security, examining the decade of austerity in the UK and the Covid-19 period. We also contextualise the process of normalisation of food banks as a new safety-net in a reduced welfare state. We argue that the welfare state has failed to address a fundamental ‘Want’ – namely, food security.

AB - The food bank has become a charitable safety-net for those who have been failed by the social security system in times of austerity and during the Covid-19 pandemic. In this article we evidence the rise of food banking in the context of declining social security, examining the decade of austerity in the UK and the Covid-19 period. We also contextualise the process of normalisation of food banks as a new safety-net in a reduced welfare state. We argue that the welfare state has failed to address a fundamental ‘Want’ – namely, food security.

KW - Food bank

KW - austerity

KW - covid-19

KW - poverty

U2 - 10.1017/S1474746421000907

DO - 10.1017/S1474746421000907

M3 - Article

VL - 22

SP - 545

EP - 561

JO - Social Policy and Society

JF - Social Policy and Society

SN - 1474-7464

IS - 3

ER -