Lewisham rally to demand a ‘right to food’ as quarter of residents struggling
A rally will take place on Saturday, ending at Lewisham Clock Tower to raise awareness of hunger in the borough.
It is being organised by the Right to Food campaign, which is demanding Government action to combat food poverty throughout the country.
Lewisham is one of the poorest boroughs in the capital, and, according to the campaigners, one in four residents is estimated to be “food insecure,” meaning they do not have the means to guarantee a staple diet.
In 2020-21, 421,000 Londoners relied on foodbanks, charities, faith groups and community groups for food, with Lewisham alone having more than 40 local faith groups, food banks and community groups providing essential support.
Event organiser, Anne Williams, founder of the local Parent Support Group, said: “As a volunteer in a local food bank, we are seeing the devastating reality for people forced to rely on food aid to get by.
“There is no longer a choice between heating and eating – families are struggling to afford either.
“We are organising this rally to raise awareness of the impossible situation families find themselves in and the incredible lifeline that community groups provide for people who are struggling.
“We are calling for regional and national changes to ensure people have access to sufficient food by London becoming a Right to Food city, and the Government enshrining the Right to Food in law.”
Janet Daby, MP for Lewisham East and founder of the Whitefoot and Downham Community Food Plus Project, will be opening the rally.
She said: “Lewisham has committed to be a Right to Food borough and we would like to encourage other boroughs and counties to follow their example.
“The Government needs to take urgent action to ensure that every family has enough money to heat their homes and sufficient food to feed their families this winter.”
Organisers are inviting as many people to join them as possible on the three-and-a-half mile walk on Saturday at noon.
It will start at the Co-Op food car park (next to bus stop S) 431-435 Downham Way, Bromley and take in Catford town centre on the way to Lewisham Clock Tower where there will be speakers and music in support of the cause.
Pictured top: Ann Williams is aiming to raise greater awareness and rally support to the cause (Pictures: AW)
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