1. #StomachThis National Poverty & Hunger Conference
@HouseofCommons | 18th June 2015 | 10AM – 5:30PM
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- Introduction
- Aims & Objectives
- Who Should Attend
- Programme of the Day
- Workshop Selection
Introduction
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We are the world‟s 7th richest country, yet millions of people find it difficult to afford everyday
essentials. There are cases of people living in deep poverty, surviving on £6 a week eating
only one meal a day, drinking hot lemon water to tame hunger pangs, choosing between
heating or eating. Yes, we are the worlds 7th richest country
On the one hand millions of people struggle to eat and feed their children; whilst on the
other; thousands of tonnes of consumable food goes to landfills and other uses each year.
How do we reduce food waste, without compromising food safety? What options for possible
EU actions is the European Commission discussing?
Poverty is generally associated with the homeless, benefit claimants and the unemployed.
However more than a quarter of food bank users are in low paid jobs and many others who
deal with the uncertainty that comes with 0 hour contracts.
Universal Credit aims to introduce news processes, to create a more streamline and fare
system in order to be the safety net the welfare structure is supposed to be. How will this
benefit and who will this benefit? What does this mean for those on 0 hour contracts?
Children are encouraged to focus in school, to concentrate on learning, and told to strive for
top grades to enhance prospects, but how many of these children arrive at school on an
empty stomach, without the means to purchase lunch? Why is this happening? What is being
done about it? Why are children still missing out on free school meals, regardless of eligibility?
Parents are forced to make sacrifices no person should ever have to make; to go hungry
themselves, in order to feed their child, albeit insufficient and minimal. What does having a
healthy food choice mean for society as a whole? Why is it so important? What
responsibilities do those who provide foodaid have?
These are just some of the questions of the many, many questions that require answers.

2. Fundamental Aims and Objectives
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1)To increase understanding of the issues around food poverty – its causes and effects.
2)To identify the potential for action which can:
A) Prevent food poverty occurring
B) Provide a workable safety net where food poverty does occur
Who Should Attend
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The conference is open to all, however, shall be relevant and highly beneficial to
professionals working in:
Heads within Corporate Social Responsibility
Physical & Mental Health Workers
Dieticians & Nutritionists
Education & Education Professionals
Parliamentarians & Departmental Officials
Local Authority & Policy Makers
Welfare Rights Workers & Advisors
NGO Sector & Food Aid Providers
Why You Should Attend
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Six weeks after the elected government you will be part of discussions and debates,
applying pressure to influence change towards reducing and tackling the affects of
poverty
Sat in the House of Commons, you will help identify and prioritise strategies, policies
and legislation needed to combat food insecurity
The conference will present a platform for you to network and seek out opportunities
to create long term solutions and partnerships
You will hear and converse with a cross section of speakers from leading
organisations working in the field
You will learn about models that are working, those that aren‟t working and those
that can be adopted by you and your organisation.
You will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges we face to tackle poverty
and how reforms, agreed actions and commitments will aid this battle.
You will understand the correlation between health, the importance of quality diet
and effects of food deprivation, along with your responsibilities to those in need
You will gain knowledge on training and resources available and help identify gaps in
training required to enable you to deliver affective support.

3. Programme of the Day
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10:00
Registration
Tea, Coffee & Biscuits
10:30
Welcome
Chair : Jackey Gardener
Kemet FM
10:33
Inspirational Talk – Reality of Life for Some
Key Note Speaker : Jack Monroe
10:40
Poor Britain
Key Note Speaker : Rachael Orr
Oxfam
- Accounts of hunger & food poverty in the UK and the indicators in place to measure.
- Growth of the low wage economy and impact
- Comparing external issues to growing internal problems
10:47
Growth over Solution ?
Key Note Speaker : David McAuley
Trussell Trust
- Why the drastic increase of referrals?
- Measuring who‟s deserving and how?
- The impact & reach
- Sustainability & the challenges that come with
10:54
Fruitful Operations
Key Note Speaker : TBC
- The problem & strain of poverty on the NHS
- What plans are in place to combat the problems and alleviate the strain ?
11:01
People over profits or profits over people
Key Note Speaker : TBC
- Growing with social responsibility
- What incentives are in place to support businesses to help combat poverty
11:08
The Role of Surplus Food
Key Note Speaker : Lindsay Boswell
FareShare
- Redistribution of surplus food, not to be seen as solution to hunger

4. - But how is redistribution of surplus helping
- And how can it help further
11:15
Reality check
Key Note Speaker : Tony Wilson
Centre for Social Inclusion & Economics
- The real value of the minimum wage
- Affects of economic insecurity and welfare reforms on society
- Where these affects are leading us & what needs to happen to overcome them
- Who takes ownership, accountability and responsibility
11:22
Refreshments Break
11:37
Panel Debate & Floor Engagement
Key benefits and drawbacks of different types of „food aid‟ provision
Chair : Jack Monroe
Panel : David McAuley, Carmel McConnell, Mary McGrath, Gary Stott, Robbie Davison
12:07
Morning BreakOut Sessions
- Selected/Allocated Session
13:22
Lunch & Networking
14:22
Panel Debate & Floor Engagement
Fundamental policies, legislation & strategies needed to sustainably help us out of poverty
Chair : Dr Sam Royston
Panel : Rachael Orr, Tony Wilson, Anne Swift, Myles Bremner, Lindsay Boswell, Moussa Haddad
14:52
Afternoon BreakOut Sessions
- Selected/Allocated Session
16:07
Refreshments Break
16:17
Gathering Our Thoughts
- Sharing Learning‟s
- Final Q&A‟s
16:47
Moving Forward
- Specific actions, focusing on prevention
Panel : Emma Lewell-Buck MP, 3 others TBC

5. 17:07
Its On Us
- Commitment Cards & Feedback Forms
17:22
Final speech and thank you
17:30
End
Workshops / BreakOut Sessions
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1. An Unhealthy Society
Record numbers of people seeking help from foodbanks and more than half a million
children in the UK living in families unable to provide minimally acceptable diets. What are
the effects on our society and what can we do about it?
Outcome:
- Recognising immediate and long term implications of food insecurity on individuals
and on our communities.
- The infrastructure and training needed for frontline staff, community organisations
and schools to support those affected by food insecurity – mentally and physically.
- How corporate and SME businesses, food aid providers and schools can benefit from
the help of nutritionists, dietitians, health advisors and social workers.
- Understanding why it is importance to provide healthy food choice and how.
- Identifying the challenges you face and collectively coming up with workable
solutions to prevent and/or provide.
- Collaborations
Target Audience:
- Heads within Corporate Social Responsibility
- Physical & Mental Health Workers
- Dieticians & Nutritionists
- Education & Education Professionals
- Parliamentarians & Departmental Officials
- Local Authority & Policy Makers
- NGO Sector & Food Aid Providers
Delivered by : Martin Caraher (Jack Monroe, Mary McGrath, Julie Davies)
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2. Want Not Waste Not
Current estimate are that more than 400,000 tonnes of good quality surplus food that could
feed people is allowed to either go to waste or to other uses by the food industry each year.
The UK lags behind many other developed economies in not having clear strategies in place
to make this happen.
Outcomes:

6. - Look at options within the voluntary sector and explore the role of surplus food in a
wider context of hunger.
- The policies needed to support responsible redistribution for those wanting to donate
surplus and those wanting to receive surplus food, focusing on “nutrition”.
- Discuss barriers manufacturers, suppliers and retailers are facing donating surplus
food.
- Understand the benefits of redistribution for people living below the breadline and
the communities they live in.
Target Audience:
- Heads within Corporate Social Responsibility
- Dieticians & Nutritionists
- Education & Education Professionals
- Parliamentarians & Departmental Officials
- Local Authority & Policy Makers
- Welfare Rights Workers & Advisors
- NGO Sector & Food Aid Providers
Delivered by : Lindsay Boswell (Gary Stott, Robbie Davies)
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3. Running on Empty
Over 90% of teachers have come across a pupil hungry, with no means to pay for lunch due
to poverty. 1 in 4 children arrive at school hungry, therefore not ready to learn. What factors
are leading to these statistics and how can we overcome them?
Outcomes:
- Looking at the Children & Families Act 2014 and the new School Food Standards.
- Establishment of educational programmes on ready to learn children.
- Understanding the variety of reasons why children are missing out on FSM, looking at
processors to increase the uptake of FSM.
- In depth insight of the complications and triggers leading to challenging behaviours
and the knock on affects on children and school achievements.
- Sustainable solutions on combating holiday hunger.
- Executing existing structures and models, such as breakfast clubs, looking at ways
others can adopt similar practices.
Target Audience:
- Heads within Corporate Social Responsibility
- Physical & Mental Health Workers
- Dieticians & Nutritionists
- Education & Education Professionals
- Parliamentarians & Departmental Officials
- Local Authority & Policy Makers
- Welfare Rights Workers & Advisors
- NGO Sector & Food Aid Providers
Delivered by : Dr Sam Royston (Anne Swift, Carmell McConnell, Myles Bremner)
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7. 4. Effective Reform
Responsibility : “Understanding and dealing with the causes of poverty, rather than its
symptoms”
Priority : “Helping to reduce poverty and improve social justice”
Looking at both commitments above; protecting its citizens from going hungry is one of the
most fundamental duties of government. Are these responsibilities still at the heart of the
decisions made around the reforms?
Outcomes:
- Looking at how welfare reforms are affecting those in need
- Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of the universal credit and the
government‟s child poverty strategy.
- Fundamental strategies on how government should/is tackling growing low wage
economy, with realistic, preventative measures.
- Recognising what the challenges are and how to overcome these.
Target Audience:
- Physical & Mental Health Workers
- Parliamentarians & Departmental Officials
- Local Authority & Policy Makers
- Welfare Rights Workers & Advisors
- NGO Sector & Food Aid Providers
Delivered by : Moussa Haddad (Rachael Orr, Tony Wilson, David McAuley)