Everton and Kirkby are among the ten most economically deprived ‘food deserts’ in England
Food campaigners in Liverpool are stepping up their fight to help tackle food poverty in and around the city
Last updated 21st Nov 2022
Everton and Kirkby are in the top ten most economically deprived ‘food deserts’ because many people have to travel more than a kilometre to get fresh greens from a supermarket.
Research by the University of Liverpool’s Department of Geography and Planning School of Environmental Sciences shows Knowsley is also near the top of the list as 77% of the borough is currently classed as a 'food desert'.
Dr Naomi Maynard, Programme Director for Liverpool’s Good Food Plan and Feeding Liverpool, explains what food deserts are and how they can have a big effect on families.
She said: “It's when you don't have easy access to good, healthy food in your local area. So typically two or fewer kind of supermarkets or convenience stores that sell healthy food.
“In Liverpool, we have three of England's top 10 most deprived food deserts. And so that would include places like Everton and Kirkdale, also Kirkby and parts of Norris Green.”
It’s as Lucy Antal, senior project manager from Feed Back Global, told us last week: “In some parts of Merseyside it’s easier to put a bet on a horse than buy an apple.”
As well as accessibility a third of adults in Liverpool said they are worrying about affording food for their families each week as the cost of living bites.
Dr Maynard explains: “In Liverpool itself, we know that one in three adults are what's called ‘food insecure’.
“So, experiencing food insecurity means they're worrying about how they're gonna afford enough food for their household that week.
“Some are skipping meals, and obviously some are going hungry.
“But for many, it's about reducing the quality and the quantity of food your households eating, which often means reducing healthy food.”
The research also shows a tiny 12% of children aged 11-18 eat their recommended fruits and vegetables each day. Plus only half of adults in Liverpool are currently getting their five-a-day.
It's one reason a new Liverpool and Knowsley fresh fruit and veg tour opens to help people within vulnerable communities, by selling affordable and healthy food from the back of a former 24-seater coach.
The new Queen of Greens bus-shop, which launches today (22nd November 2022) is an initiative to boost access to healthy food and help tackle health inequalities across Liverpool and Knowesley.
The bus-shop is part of a long-term solution to help reduce health inequalities and improve nutrition, by making it easier for people to access healthy food in their communities whilst supporting sustainable local businesses.
The route takes in neighbourhoods classed as ‘food deserts’, including areas of Everton and Kirkby, where residents have to travel more than a kilometre or walk 15 minutes to reach a supermarket selling ‘green’ produce.
The bus will also help reduce the environmental impact of people’s weekly shop by reducing the need to travel, reducing packaging, and selling food in small amounts so people buy only what they need and can afford.
Andy Muir, Northwest Regional Director for Community Health Partnerships and Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership Director, is also backing the initiative.
He said in a press release: “With the cost-of-living crisis across the country, healthy foods have become a lot more expensive than junk food, so for families on a budget buying unhealthy food seems the better option to save money.
“The Queen of Greens project will go some way towards helping families all over Liverpool and Knowsley live a healthier lifestyle in an affordable way.
“I’m really excited about this valuable service expanding to serve the patients and staff who attend and work out of Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership’s LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) buildings.
“Never has this been more needed and the project will help a lot of people within vulnerable communities in staying healthy, and fighting the obesity epidemic by selling affordable and healthy fresh fruit and veg every day.”
The new bus-shop will also accept the healthy start cards and Alexandra Rose vouchers.
Dr Naomi Maynard told us she has some advice for families with young children who want a helping hand with getting fresh food through, Healthy Start.
She said: “One in three eligible women and families with children under four in the city, so and they'll be around the same across Merseyside, that aren't taking up this benefit.
“So from ten weeks pregnant, or if you have a child up to their 4th birthday and you're on a low income, so you might be on various benefits or your household income, your take home pay might be particularly low, you could get Healthy Start.
“What that means is you'll get £4.25 every week on a card that you can spend on fruit, vegetables, milk and lentils.
“It's brilliant, and that actually doubles for the first year of your child's life. It's something I got myself when I had my first child.”