Councillor Michael Lilley has been a staunch advocate against food poverty and insecurity for many years and is now in his ninth year of campaigning.
The councillor for Ryde Appley and Elmfield always dedicates the months of February and March to raising awareness and funds for local food projects across Ryde.
This year, he has taken a unique approach by highlighting food insecurity as a pressing health inequality and underscored the dangers associated with malnutrition.
Council efforts and community support
Recently, Councillor Lilley raised the pressing issue of food poverty at an IW council (IWC) meeting, in his capacity as Chair of the IW Policy and Scrutiny Committee of Health and Social Care.
The agenda for the meeting held on 4th March included food poverty as a health inequality, featuring presentations from representatives of IW Foodbank and the Food Pantry at the Congregational Church in Newport.
IWC anti-poverty strategy
In a significant stride towards combating poverty, IWC acknowledged food poverty within its proposed anti-poverty strategy.
Readers may remember that in 2023, Councillor Lilley successfully motioned for the council to commit to a substantial reduction in child poverty on the Island by 2028. He has also requested data from IWC Public Health on food programmes throughout the Island, details of which he has made accessible on his website under the banner ‘Fighting against food poverty’.
The rise in need among working families
Ryde hosts three pivotal food projects that provide free or reduced-cost food to the most vulnerable members of the community: Ryde Foodbank, Aspire, and Oakfield Food Pantry.
A concerning trend observed by these projects is the rising number of working families requiring assistance, highlighting an urgent need for support within the community.
Community engagement and fundraising success
Councillor Lilley has managed to raise £670 so far in 2024 for three charitable organizations in Ryde, namely John’s Club, Tidal Family Support, and Ryde/IW Foodbank.
See Councillor Lilley’s website for more information.
