Councillors in call for end to food poverty

CATH BALL

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A NEW wave of support has been given to Oldham's poor to ensure residents live free from the damaging effects of hunger.

Councillors pledged to promote the food justice movement at local level as well as raise awareness about the help available to the needy.

Labour councillor Cath Ball, who put forward the motion, advocated increased support and awareness for children and families in poverty.

Councillor Ball said: "There should be a safety net for times of crises. If we do this, it offers someone time to get back on their feet.

"This council is doing an awful lot already, including citizens' advice sessions, debt counselling and its jam jar accounts ad loans.

"Our Winter Warmth campaign is absolutely outstanding. We have seen an increase in the number of people going to foodbanks but here in Oldham we have many volunteers who are working hard to support people. They are the backbone of our town.

"The council should continue to do as we are doing but we need to look at where the gaps are."

The pledge of support comes ahead of the "End Hunger" campaign, which will launch on October 15.

A further aim included writing to the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to ensure that GPs and other front-line staff take food poverty into account when seeing residents who are not in good health.

An amendment was proposed by Liberal Democrat Garth Harkness, who said: "We need to ensure that no kid starts a day hungry but also that no child or adult goes to bed hungry.

"We can also ensure that we really distribute surplus food. Npower run a voucher scheme and I would suggest we need to work with them to bring it to Oldham.

"We have plenty of food in our country and it is a scandal that people are going hungry."

Under the motion elected members will write to the borough's MPs and the Prime Minister about the cause.

Councillor Ball said in the motion outline: "The overall aim is to build a town in which everyone has access to good food and no one goes to bed hungry."