Tackling food insecurity

Cost of living crisis: find out what help is available

Cash-First plan

We published our plan, Cash-First: Towards ending the need for food banks in Scotland, on 5 June 2023. This outlines the nine actions we will take over the next three years to help improve the response to crisis and reduce the need for emergency food parcels.

Cash-First Fund

The Scottish Government invited applications to the Cash-First Fund between 31 July 2023 and 1 September 2023. The fund was open to partnerships made up of public sector and third sector organisations for collaborative work to improve urgent local access to cash in a crisis. The application period has now closed.

Policy context

Scotland’s approach to tackling food insecurity is grounded in human rights; as set out in our statement to the UN Special Rapporteurs on Poverty and the Right to Food in February 2021, we prioritise action that prevents food insecurity through fair work and social security.

In 2016 The Independent Working Group on Food Poverty, whose membership included people with lived experience of food insecurity, recommended transitioning the response to food insecurity from charitable approaches towards rights-based, dignified approaches. This includes support to maximise income, and to access nutritious food in inclusive, community settings. Find out more about dignified approaches including the four dignity principles.

The Independent Food Aid Network have published leaflets which may help people to find local cash-first support.      

If you need help to access food and other essentials

Anyone who is struggling financially should contact their local authority, a local advice service, or Social Security Scotland as well as checking our cost of living website for advice.

Back to top