Mancunians are being invited to attend a Food Poverty Summit in Albert Square as part of this years Manchester Food and Drink Festival. Coming up with ways to make regional food poverty history, the event has been designed (in partnership with The Manchester Evening news, Food Futures and Fareshare) to provide a platform for councillors, campaigners, foodies, chefs, the government, and ordinary local people to come together to discuss the issue which is currently resulting in the daily battle of thousands of families in the region to feed their children.
The Summit will take place at 10am on Tuesday 1 October during MFDF in the Festival Hub on Albert Square and is free to attend with those interested being asked to register for their place via the link below.
There will be the opportunity to discuss the issues of food poverty in more depth, and to explore what Manchester can do as a community to tackle the growing problem. Taking place during the Conservative Party Conference, a panel discussion will take place with panel members including:
Paul Maynard, Conservative MP for Blackpool and Cleavleys
Professor Elaine Fairhurst, Salford University and one of the leading members of Manchesters Food Poverty Commission
Lucy Danger, Director, FareShare
The discussion will be chaired by the Manchester Evening News David Ottewell. The hope is that the event will encourage support, garnering pledges of action from individuals, companies, politicians and so on.
Festival Founder Phil Jones comments: While the Festival is all about people enjoying the wealth of food and drink available in the region, it can also act as a platform to highlight the other side of the coin, those who do not have access to good quality food for their families. Were pleased to be using the Festival, as usual, as a voice for meaningful campaigns, especially this one its not right that 42% of children in this city area have been found to be living below the poverty line. It's up to us all to investigate why this is happening and what can be done.
In addition throughout the Festival there will be Food Bank Drop Off Points were visitors can donate non perishable foods which will then be given to the many currently oversubscribed Food banks across the City.
People can pre register for the summit at https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8299266329
Tue 2 Oct, Manchester Food and Drink Festival Hub in Albert Square, 10am-6pm, FREE