The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), Feeding Britain and the University of York host this webinar discussion about in-work poverty and the effects of low wages and insecure work on food insecurity.

Making a mockery of the oft touted line that work is a "route out of poverty", there has recently been a rise in people in work needing to use charitable food aid feed themselves and their families. In data collected from the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) over the past several months, independent food banks have consistently reported that inadequate wages and insecure work are a key reason for people seeking their help. The current national conversation on the cost of living provides an opportunity to look at the structural inequalities in our society that have produced and maintained unacceptable levels of demand for charitable food aid for over a decade.

As part of a series of webinars on existing structural inequalities and the need for charitable food aid, this webinar will consider how low-paid work, insecure hours and job security affect food insecurity and the reforms needed to prevent people from going hungry due to low income.

The session will be chaired by Chris Stephens MP and Dee Woods, chair of IFAN's board of trustees. Speakers include Charlotte White, Earlsfield Food Bank, Simon Fann, Truro Food Bank, Amy Porter, Leeds City Council and Professor Peter Taylor-Gooby, University of Kent.

If you would like to submit a question for our panel in advance please do so via this Eventbrite page. We will send the Zoom joining link and instructions before the event.

This webinar is the eighth in the Structural Inequalities Webinar Series. Click here for more information. Another structural inequalities webinar on benefits sanctions is being held on 2nd February - more details can be found here.

Accessibility

If you have any accessibility requirements please contact Maria at maria@foodaidnetwork.org.uk. If you require a BSL interpreter for the event, please be in touch by Monday 6th February.

Call for evidence

We are collecting evidence to inform this discussion and to help inform a report to be produced alongside the webinar. If you either have experience of in-work poverty, or work with people that do, we would like to hear your thoughts and experiences. You can submit evidence via this online form. It is also possible to submit evidence in other formats e.g. via email, phone or voice recording. For alternative formats please get in touch with Maria at maria@foodaidnetwork.org.uk.

'A route out of poverty?: low wages, insecure work and food insecurity