Hello, welcome to my £1 a day food challenge. 

During the pandemic we have seen an increase in food poverty across Glasgow and the UK - an issue which was already huge before March 2020. We’ve seen how many people in Glasgow are making do with food parcels, school meal vouchers and charity support and although I am in a lucky position to not have that burden, I know that things can change in an instant and we should help people who are burdened with food poverty during the times that those worries feel far away from us most. 

I’m writing an article for my online news site Glasgow Live on how my  partner and I will be living off roughly £1.14 a day this week - breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s something many people and families do every week, every year. 

At the close of the week you can read how we got on. The premise is that non-perishables don’t count but anything fresh does.

I thought it would be nice to raise money for Glasgow Women’s Aid alongside this to make a small yet hopefully significant change, even if it is just to help another woman or mother across the city have a little extra in her pocket next Sunday when she goes shopping, or have somewhere safe to take refuge in if they should need it. 

The reality is that thousands of people in Glasgow are living on the daily with a shoestring budget. 

A recent study by Shelter Scotland said 26% of families in private rentals are one paycheque away from being homeless.

The Trussell Trust saw an 89% increase in emergency food parcels in April 2020 and a 107% rise in those given to children. Children and babies should not be hungry. 

Lastly, the Poverty and Inequality commission found that before the pandemic women in Scotland earned less than men and were less likely to earn the real Living Wage. Female lone parent households are particularly likely to experience poverty, with 39% in relative poverty. 

I’d be so grateful if you could contribute something to the fundraiser, but no pressure. You can even read the article for meal ideas or shopping mindfully- it’s definitely opened my eyes to the secrets of the supermarket. See you in a week!