With World Hunger Day looming, Glasgow City Council is turning up the heat on both local and national governments over the growing hunger crisis gripping the city.
City councillors are calling for urgent reforms, including welfare changes and a grassroots food resilience programme, as pressure mounts on families struggling with sky-high food costs and stagnating support.
A City Hungry for Change
It’s not a warning anymore—it’s reality. Glasgow is staring down the barrel of rising food poverty, and elected leaders are scrambling to respond.
A new report from council officials paints a grim picture: more households are falling through the cracks, food insecurity is climbing, and unless there’s a “step change,” things are only going to get worse.
Councillors have latched on to that phrase—step change—and they’re demanding it. Loudly.
Next week, SNP representatives will bring forward a motion urging Westminster to scrap the two-child benefit cap and roll back planned cuts to disability benefits. But they’re not stopping at finger-pointing.
Plant, Share, Learn: One-Stop Food Hub Proposed
Beyond the political pressure, there’s a practical proposal on the table. Councillors want to create an online one-stop shop—a digital hub offering resources for everything from growing your own veg to learning how to cut down food waste.
Simple? Maybe. Needed? Definitely.
It’s a move that blends education with empowerment. And supporters say it could reach a lot of people who are feeling helpless right now.
“We can’t wait around,” said one councillor. “People are hungry today. This gives them tools, knowledge, and some control back.”
The goal is to roll it out citywide, with links to existing community gardens, composting sites, food education workshops, and waste reduction tips.
Calls for UN Intervention on the Right to Food
In a bold move, the motion doesn’t just ask for local action—it goes international.
Councillors want an urgent date set for a UK visit from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. The last visit, back in 2019, made headlines when the UN expert condemned austerity policies and rising hunger.
This time, Glasgow leaders want to bring the spotlight to their door.
They say a UN visit could shine a much-needed light on the impact of recent welfare policies—particularly the two-child limit and the tightening eligibility for disability support.
One councillor summed it up bluntly: “We’re treating poverty like an inevitable outcome. It’s not. It’s political.”
The Numbers Behind the Hunger
Food banks are stretched thin. School meal programmes are under strain. And more Glaswegians are skipping meals just to pay rent or keep the heating on.
Let’s take a quick look at the numbers.
| Indicator | 2023 | 2025 (Est.) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households using food banks | 22,400 | 28,600 | +27.6% |
| Children in food-insecure homes | 34,000 | 40,000 | +17.6% |
| Community food growing projects | 112 | 139 | +24.1% |
| Average grocery cost per household | £56/week | £68/week | +21.4% |
Those increases aren’t just numbers—they’re lives. Families that once got by are now hanging on by a thread. And for many, a bag of donated groceries is the difference between eating and going without.
What Community Groups Are Saying
Grassroots organisations have been sounding the alarm for years. Now, they’re cautiously hopeful that political will is catching up.
Sarah Lennox from Glasgow Food Collective says they’ve seen a surge in demand and a dip in donations. “People who used to drop off tins are now clients. It’s flipped. That’s how close people are to the edge.”
Still, the idea of a council-led growing and food-sharing platform has been welcomed.
“If they do it right, and actually work with us—not just throw up a webpage—it could be brilliant,” Lennox said. “We’ve got the knowledge. We just need the infrastructure.”
Not Just a Glasgow Problem, But Glasgow Is Pushing
Glasgow isn’t alone, but it’s pushing louder than most.
Local authorities across the UK are facing similar struggles, but few have made such bold calls as inviting the UN back in or linking growing food directly to digital empowerment.
There’s also a cultural element. Glasgow has long leaned on community activism and grassroots support networks. This plan—part policy, part people-powered—is deeply in line with that tradition.
That being said, critics wonder whether the online platform will be properly funded. It’s one thing to launch a new site. It’s another to staff it, run workshops, and make sure every part of the city actually knows it exists.
As of now, no budget line has been confirmed for the proposal. But councillors insist that will come after the motion passes.
