Supporting People and Pets: Food Banks, Food Insecurity, and Wellbeing in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

This PhD project will investigate how foodbanks across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire currently support residents and their pets, and the experiences of people who seek this help. It will examine whether challenges already linked to foodbank use, such as access, availability, eligibility and stigma, are experienced differently, or more strongly, by people who are also caring for animals. Drawing on a One Health perspective, an approach that recognises the connected wellbeing of people, animals and communities, the research will explore the relationship between food insecurity, pet ownership, and human health and wellbeing.

A core principle of the project is that the research will be done with communities rather than to them. Working closely with people with lived experience of food insecurity, as well as foodbank staff and volunteers, animal charities and local community organisations, the researcher will use participatory and sensitive approaches to ensure that the voices and priorities of local residents are at the centre of the work. Particular care will be given to understanding experiences of dignity, stigma, care and support.

The findings will be used to co-produce practical recommendations and resources for foodbanks and other local services. By bringing together perspectives from sociology, psychology and food ethics, the project aims to generate new evidence on an under-researched issue and contribute to wider work on health and wellbeing, supporting inclusive, compassionate and wellbeing-focused services for people experiencing food insecurity across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

This project has been co-created with and is supported by researchers from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, and partners at Arnold Food Bank. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at the University of Nottingham.

Project Aims and Objectives

The project objectives are:

• Identify the current role of food banks in supporting residents of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, including their companion animals

• Analyse the extent to which known challenges for food bank service users (including access and/or stigma) are experienced differently by those seeking support for companion animals

• Understand and explore the interrelationships between food insecurity and human and companion animal health and wellbeing

• Co-produce recommendations and support materials for foodbanks in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and identify implications for wider local service provision

What is Collaboratory?

Collaboratory is a research programme, led by Universities for Nottingham and the Leicester Universities Partnership, that places community knowledge and experience at the heart of research. This eight-year initiative is pioneering a new approach to collaboration, working closely with local communities and community-focused organisations to develop and deliver research that addresses the needs and priorities of local communities.