“We have seen firsthand the positive impact that this collaborative approach has on our neighbourhood. Our long-standing partnership has connected more local residents to crisis support, employability and skills programmes” – Zoe Stern, Head of Community Affairs, Google, 2024
Over the past three years, generous grants from Google.org to Islington Giving and Camden Giving have provided a vital safety net for residents facing the sharpest edge of the ongoing rises in the cost-of-living. With over £1 million invested into these communities, this funding has provided vital emergency support for local people and families facing hunger and has empowered local communities to lead on approaches that tackle the roots causes of food poverty and develop sustainable, long-term solutions.
In Islington, funding from Google.org has resourced emergency food provision and wraparound support for those in crisis, and supported the transition to self-sustaining models such as food pantries, which offer choice, dignity and nourishment.
Estimates from the Islington Food Partnership suggest of the 37,000 people that are food insecure in Islington, only 16,000 people are accessing support. Single-parent families, Black and Minority Ethnic communities, people on Universal Credit or other income-related benefits and households with disabled adults are more likely to experience food insecurity.
Since 2023, funding from Google.org has enabled us to work alongside the Islington Food Partnership and local community organisations to support more than 3500 people a year, working with a total of 41 partner organisations including food banks, support services and food-related training projects.
Following a review of the local food sector in 2024 alongside Feeding Britain and Octopus Community Network, funding enabled us to strengthen the ecosystem of food provision in the borough – supporting local projects transitioning to more sustainable, dignified and community-led models such as food pantries and co-operatives, establishing a community of practice and commissioning advice services in food settings to address the root causes of insecurity local people are facing.
