Funding to help more people access healthy food

**Funding to help more people access healthy food**

Five local authorities in Hull and Lincolnshire will each receive £222,000 to help people overcome difficulties accessing healthy food.

People in Hull are facing a "stark" challenge when it comes to getting healthy food, according to the leader of the city’s council.

Hull City Council and four councils in Lincolnshire are among 45 authorities in England set to receive £222,000 each from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to improve access to healthy and affordable food.

The councils were selected after being identified as having the highest levels of deprivation and childhood obesity.

Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: "It can be incredibly difficult for some people to get the healthy food they need. So, anything that helps tackle those barriers is really important."

DEFRA said the Good Food Neighbourhoods funding could back projects such as community food shops and mobile greengrocers, as well as help local authorities build their ability to plan for and meet local food needs.

Ross added: "This whole picture demonstrates there is severe need here.

"Of course, this funding will help tackle that, building on the work that's already taking place and wanting to work with not just the council but with local communities and groups across the city to make sure everything is done to support local residents."

Darren Squires, from the Hull Food Partnership, says there are several reasons why some people find it hard to access healthy food.

Darren Squires, from the Hull Food Partnership, which brings together all the community food organisations in the city, said it was not simply low income that made food hard to access.

He said: "When we talk about deprivation, some of it is poverty, some of it is access to food if you're so far away from a supermarket and don't drive or if you're running two jobs.

"For some people it's not about income. People can be financially secure, but still time poor.

"There are areas in the city where it is much easier to get a takeaway meal than it is to get any other kind of food that you would cook at home."

Other local authorities from East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire receiving the funding include North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC), North Lincolnshire Council, City of Lincoln Council and South Holland District Council.

Councillor Nige Oliver, portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and adult social care at NELC, welcomed the announcement.

He said: "Families in areas like ours can face significant challenges in trying to access affordable, healthy food.

"We're now looking at how we can use this funding to support people in our area."

The BBC understands a government meeting next week will give local authorities further details about this funding.