Join us on Tuesday 12th March at 14:00-15:00 for a webinar where we present our latest research on food access for asylum seekers in London and recommendations for local action.
In October 2023, JRS UK joined Sustain’s Food Poverty Campaign in a new project funded by Trust for London and in partnership with Life Seekers Aid, to explore lived experiences of asylum seekers in London around food.
“That food’s expired, we’ll give it to refugees. If it’s not okay to give to other people, why is it okay to give to refugees?”
This project was developed following concerns around the high risk of food insecurity for people seeking asylum, due to no right to work and limited financial support making it difficult to afford food, along with other barriers such as restricted access to kitchen facilities, language barriers, and lack of support.
JRS UK and Life Seekers Aid hosted three focus groups to explore experiences of food from people that had been in asylum accommodation or destitute across London. In addition, we also learned from staff and volunteers in frontline support organisations, healthcare providers, and local authorities who are taking action on improving food for people seeking asylum.
“I feel like I am losing my perception of how food should be.”
What emerged was a strong picture of food insecurity leading to issues around nutritional requirements and health, a lack of access to food people enjoy, and the eroded dignity of having a lack of choice and control over what one eats.
This webinar will communicate findings from the project, identify key areas where national policy change is necessary, and highlight guidance and recommendations for councils.
