Research sites: United Kingdom

Population number: 67,026,300 (World Bank, 2021)

HDI (Human Development Index): The UK consistently ranks high on the Human Development Index. In 2020, the UK was ranked 13th globally with a score of 0.932 (UNDP, 2021).

Research partners: Our plan is to work with The Food Foundation which is an independent think tank that focuses on addressing the challenges faced by the food system

Country’s Digital and Food assistance context and practices:

• The UK has a strong digital infrastructure and a high rate of internet penetration. It is one of the highest ranked e-government systems in the world. Digital platforms and services, including online banking, e-commerce, and e-government services, are widely used and integrated into daily life.
• As a part of its welfare reforms, the UK introduced the consolidated Universal Credit Digital Service, which provides a digital-first approach for welfare claimants, consolidating various benefits into one monthly payment and offering an online portal for claim management. This is connected to other public support schemes, including food assistance.
• Food insecurity has been on the rise in the UK in the past decade, with organizations like The Trussell Trust and the Food Foundation advocating better policies and playing significant roles in providing emergency food assistance. Various initiatives, both governmental and non-governmental, are in place to address food poverty and insecurity with varying levels of digital delivery – including school meal programs, community fridges, and food redistribution schemes.

We aim to focus particularly on marginalised populations in London, the Midlands and Yorkshire.