Derry to become a Right to Food City

Derry and Strabane Council will strive to become a Right to Food City after passing a motion to combat the issue of food insecurity in the district.

Councillor Catherine McDaid brought the motion to the reconvened Full Council meeting on Thursday 24 November.

The SDLP councillor said food insecurity is a significant issue in the North

“Research done by the Trussell Trust found that approximately 345,000 people in Northern Ireland have experienced food insecurity in the last year,” she said.

“This means that they ran out of food, had to reduce meal size, gone hungry or lost weight due to lack of money. We know that food poverty leads to a huge amount of physical and emotional problems. And it's been shown to reduce life expectancy and I'm sure it's no surprise to hear, a lower quality of life.”

She said hunger has a knock-on effect on children in schools, reducing their ability to pay attention and conform in class.

“A hungry child may play up or have behavioural issues at school, which impacts on the school experience and ability to make friends. A hungry child is not on a level playing field with his or her peers who haven't experienced food poverty.

Cllr McDaid said despite the high numbers of people experiencing food poverty, many are not seeking or being offered help.

“That's why I'm asking this council to back my proposal and work practically with me to launch a Right to Food campaign here in this city and district.”

The motion said the British Government and any restored Executive must prioritise food poverty, implementing a range of new measures including universal free school meals, support for community kitchens and enshrining the Right To Food for All through legislation.

Alderman Ryan McCready said it was 'an embarrassment' that people are going hungry in the current year.

“We're coming to the end of 2023 and we're now sitting in Council chambers discussing the basic human right to access food,” the UUP alderman said.

“When we look at the next generation, it's the duty of the generation before it to do everything in our power to make the next generation's journey better than ours.”

He said universal free school meals should be funded by the government so a child isn't set up for 'systemic failure' for the rest of their life.

“I've got three kids and they go to school. If I was to think they went to school without food in their bellies and it would draw me to tears.

“A full endorsement of this motion and any other actions, whether that's facilitative or anything we can do in Council to change this and transform young people's lives.”

The motion passed unanimously. Cllr McDaid said she looks forward to working with cllr Harkin and ald McCready who 'both stated on the record that they're going to definitely get involved'.