Cash-First: Towards ending the need for food banks in Scotland Equality Impact Assessment

Stage 4: Decision making and monitoring

Identifying and establishing any required mitigating action

• Have positive or negative impacts been identified for any of the equality groups? Yes
• Is the policy directly or indirectly discriminatory under the Equality Act 2010^[37]? No
• If the policy is indirectly discriminatory, how is it justified under the relevant legislation? N/A
• If not justified, what mitigating action will be undertaken? N/A

Describing how Equality Impact analysis has shaped the policy making process

The assessment has identified groups who experience a greater prevalence of food insecurity, and may experience greater barriers to accessing crisis support services. This has helped to frame the priorities within the Plan, which recognises the household groups most impacted and considers targeting and inclusion across the associated actions.

This includes continued support for the Scottish Crisis Fund which offers support based on a referral from trusted agencies and is inclusive of those who may otherwise be ineligible for government support. The crisis response pilot with Citizens Advice Scotland aims to provide greater agency and choice to those experiencing crisis through cash grants and shopping cards, which may help to better meet different needs and preferences. An evaluation report will be published when the pilot ends.

Locally tailored cash-first tools such as the Independent Food Aid Network ^[38] leaflets have been developed alongside a range of local services representing diverse needs and have been translated and provided in inclusive formats.

The Plan reaffirms support for the community food sector and other trusted partners that can help overcome barriers to services, and it reaffirms that food insecurity policy and practice will continue to be guided by direct experience.

Monitoring and Review

The Plan details the nine targeted actions the Scottish Government will take over the next three years alongside partners to improve the response to crisis and start to reduce the need for emergency food parcels. Impact will be monitored throughout delivery and learning will help to identify scalable interventions that move us closer towards our longer term ambition of a Scotland without the need for food banks.

We will continue to monitor the national prevalence of food insecurity, including through data which provides insight into the experience of those with protected characteristics. We will also continue to be guided by people with direct experience.