Launch of Cheshire East Food Poverty Taskforce

The Cheshire East Food Poverty Taskforce is a non-partisan, grassroots organisation that has been set up in light of Marcus Rashford MBE’s National #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY Campaign.

Aiming to form a network of local organisations, businesses, charities, stakeholders and politicians, we aim to raise awareness of Food Poverty locally in Cheshire East, working cooperatively to find solutions and support vulnerable people and families.

We currently have 5 preliminary aims:

1. Create the ‘Cheshire East Food Charter’ for partner groups to sign up to, which will ensure a collective responsibility to fighting food poverty.
2. Form a Taskforce Network of local businesspeople, charity workers, community figures to coordinate community responses to food poverty and identify local need.
3. Lobby Councillors, MPs, Government and businesses to take action on the Food Poverty Crisis both locally and nationally.
4. Campaign for the extension of Government-Funded Free School Meals into School Holidays and also for wider Welfare Reform nationally.
5. Create an ‘army of volunteers’ across Cheshire East (regardless of political views/affiliation) to mobilise in their communities.

In the future, we would also like to coordinate a local Food Voucher scheme, working with independent businesses across Cheshire East to create a programme where a Universal voucher for those in need to spend at supporting businesses. This would alleviate pressure on schools and Cheshire East Council, who have committed to ensuring a food voucher scheme is in place throughout the October half-term for the 7,500 children eligible for Free School Meals.

We invite local groups, businesses, charities, political groups/politicians and other interested parties to get in contact with us at: cefoodpovertytaskforce@gmail.com if they are interested in supporting us.