Exploring the rise in emergency food provision in the UK and food security
Emergency food provision in the UK: Understanding its Rise and Implications Supervisors: Dr Matt Watson and Dr Dimitris Ballas Funding: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) +3 studentship
Research website: www.hannahlambie-mumford.co.uk My PhD research aims to explore the recent rise in national-level, formalised, voluntary sector emergency food provision in the UK, which is observable since the turn of the 21st Century. It seeks to evidence and understand the increase in this provision and investigate the drivers and social dynamics behind it. Importantly, the PhD will locate the phenomena and the consequences of its effects within theories of poverty, social justice and food poverty and food security. The research also aims to conceptualise and theorise 'emergency food provision' in the UK context. A key aspect of the research will be to explore the impact of this increase in emergency food provision on the wider food experiences of the recipients.
Key terms: Emergency food provision; charitable food assistance; food banks; surplus food redistribution; food poverty; food security.
Education MSc Policy Research, University of Bristol (2010) Distinction BA (Hons) Politics, University of Sheffield (2006) First Class
Previous relevant research and experience I graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with an undergraduate degree in Politics. After graduating I worked on regeneration and economic development issues in the both the private and local authority sectors. In 2008 I moved to Coventry University's Applied Research Centre in Sustainable Regeneration (SURGE) where I was a researcher until returning to Sheffield to begin my PhD studies in September 2011.
My previous research experience has been situated broadly around issues relating to social and economic dimensions of regeneration, inequality, faith based social action and food poverty and insecurity. I have worked on projects funded by a range of organisations including the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Church Urban Fund.
The genesis of my PhD is situated within work I carried out immediately prior to returning to the University of Sheffield. This research project looked into the rise of the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network. Drawing on empirical data the research explored some of the key drivers behind the growth of the Foodbank Network since it was established in 2004. A final research report and a number of further research papers are forthcoming from this work.