REGISTER HERE:  Introduction to Independent Food Banks

The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) has warned that this coming winter is set to be their busiest yet.

As food banks face their most challenging winter on record, it's clearer than ever that responding to poverty with emergency food parcels is neither sustainable nor effective. IFAN is calling for an urgent change of approach from governments, donors and frontline support workers.

This session is an opportunity for individuals and organisations to learn about a cash first approach to food insecurity and how this can help us to resist the entrenchment of food banks and work towards a future without the need for charitable food aid.

How can your organisation and expertise help build local pathways away from charitable food aid provision and towards income maximisation and advice?

Abby Preston and Maria Marshall will lead this session covering an introduction to:

• independent food banks and other food aid providers operating outside of The Trussell Trust network
• the wider picture of food insecurity in the UK
• the food bank paradox
• a cash first approach to food insecurity
• IFAN's 'Worrying About Money?' cash first referral leaflet project
• best practice (including work on ending the need for food banks Scotland)

There will also be plenty of opportunities for questions, discussion, and networking.

About Independent Food Aid network (IFAN)

IFAN is the UK's network of independent food aid providers

Their vision is of a country without the need for charitable food aid where adequate and nutritious food is affordable to all.

W ho is this session for?

Money guiders who may need to refer clients to an independent food bank and want to better understand how the people they work with are supported, and/or want to understand more about the bigger picture of food insecurity and ways to fight it.

L earning points may include but are not limited to:

• What an independent food bank is and how it differs to other types of food banks
• How to refer a client to an independent food bank and what happens once a referral has been made
• What the cash first approach is and how it can help your clients
• Best Practice

Money Guidance Competency Framework:

Knowledge and compliance- E2 signposting

Technical domain- Tier 2 knowing your clients

https://maps.org.uk/en/our-work/money-guiders/competency-framework/technical-domains/1-knowing-your-customer

Speakers

Abby Preston, project office (IFAN)

Maria Marshall (IFAN)

Event hosts: Jez and Lucille from Money Guiders England

Accessibility

The event takes place on Zoom. Auto-generated closed captions will be available as standard.

We will endeavour to share t he speaker's presentation in advance of the event with everyone who registers for the event.

If you have other accessibility requirements, please inform the hosts when you register and we will do our best to meet them.