West Cheshire Food Bank - Enhanced Efficiency with Huggg

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West Cheshire Food Bank, in collaboration with Huggg and its referral partners, launched a pilot project to send food vouchers directly to people in need. This initiative aimed to streamline food aid distribution, enhance user dignity, and improve the overall efficiency of food aid delivery. The pilot project, evaluated by the University of Chester, demonstrates significant benefits in its first year of implementation.

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Key Findings from the Pilot Project

1. Enhanced Efficiency 

The Huggg platform significantly improved the efficiency of food aid distribution. Traditionally, food aid involved collecting, storing, and redistributing donated food, which required substantial resources and time. Referral partners would refer people to the food bank, which was not always easy or possible depending on the opening times and location of the food bank or ability of the person to travel. 

Allowing referral partners access to a digital voucher system simplified this process:

• Families in need were identified and referred.
• Referral partners entered recipient contact details and sent voucher codes via the Huggg platform.
• Beneficiaries could immediately use these vouchers to purchase food from chosen supermarkets, either online or in-person.

2. Flexibility and Choice 

The voucher scheme provided greater flexibility and choice to the beneficiaries:

• They could select from a variety of supermarkets.
• The scheme catered to dietary needs and preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, and other specific food requirements.
• Beneficiaries had the option to purchase other essentials such as shower gel, toilet paper, pet food, and baby formula.
• There was a wider variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and frozen foods available, enhancing the nutritional options.

3. Dignity and Independence 

Using vouchers promoted dignity and independence among beneficiaries:

• Vouchers were discreet and inconspicuous, reducing the stigma associated with receiving food aid from food banks.
• Beneficiaries reported improved mental health due to the privacy and normalcy of shopping with vouchers.
• The system allowed for online delivery, making it accessible for rural residents and those without easy access to food banks.

4. Wider Impacts 

The pilot project showed potential for broader impacts:

• Reduced reliance on donated food and the resources needed to manage it.
• Decreased food waste and environmental impacts.
• Less physical need for food bank distribution centres, potentially allowing for a greener and more efficient aid system.

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Feedback from Beneficiaries and Stakeholders 

Feedback from families, referral partners, and stakeholders highlighted the positive changes brought by the voucher scheme:

• The convenience and immediate availability of vouchers were highly appreciated.
• The choice and flexibility in shopping were seen as significant improvements.
• The discreet nature of the vouchers helped reduce stigma and promote mental well-being.
• The system's efficiency and reduced logistical burdens were noted by stakeholders as major advantages.

Conclusion 

The first year of using the Huggg platform for food vouchers at West Cheshire Food Bank has shown overwhelmingly positive results. It has improved the efficiency and dignity of food aid delivery while providing beneficiaries with more choices and better mental health outcomes. However, the evaluation also emphasized the need for longer-term, holistic approaches to addressing poverty and ensuring food security, such as universal free school meals and raising wages and benefit levels.

Statistics

• Families Benefited: 598 since inception.
• Positive Impacts Noted: Efficiency, choice, dignity, mental health, and environmental benefits.

‍Beneficiaries' Feedback:

• "We went down to ASDA with a little shopping list to try and make meals out of things I’ve already got in... I like cooking."
• “It was straightforward – you just scan the barcode (when paying for supermarket shop) and it does it automatically.”

Referral Partners' Insights:

• "The convenience of it is a big thing, especially for families that maybe live out of the way a little bit, and they might not have a food bank near them."
• "It’s really changed the way it’s rolled out and given to families – it’s much more positive for them."
• "It can go direct to the family within minutes."
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University of Chester’s overall findings:

"The voucher scheme would take away from the need for the food banks to have big warehouses or to be growing in size. We could maybe reduce, so that we could distribute partly through the voucher system, and partly through a food system. It might reduce the physical need for the distribution, and therefore it has a certain greener element to it too."

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