What is it about?
This research found that repeat food bank use is not a useful metric for planning a response to food insecurity (for example because of variance in referral systems or approach taken by food banks). We call for a holistic ‘more than food’ approach’. To capture this we developed an ‘opportunity pathways’ framework which offers a more fundamental, place-based response to food insecurity. The framework has 4 interlocking and successive stages: 1) food relief, (2) social capital, (3) wellbeing (4) opportunities and security (see attached infographic).
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Why is it important?
We support calls for a more holistic approach to food aid that moves beyond crisis support and constraining repeat use and shifts attention to structural solutions: restoring adequate social safety nets and investing in bringing people closer to employment and/or volunteering.
Perspectives
We hope that the opportunity pathways’ framework will offer a more consistent, place-based approach to tackling food insecurity and welcome comments and feedback.
Richard Machin
Nottingham Trent University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: An analysis of repeat food bank use and development of an ‘opportunity pathways’ framework, Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, March 2026, Policy Press,
DOI: 10.1332/17598273y2026d000000060.
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