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A network of 10 Anglican churches in Ipswich is helping tackle food poverty and social isolation through its Top Up Shops scheme, which new research by the University of Suffolk shows is "filling a gap in public sector provision."
Why it matters: According to , who observed customers queuing from 6am to access the service, the initiative is providing vital support as the cost of living continues to increase.
The big picture: Researchers from the University's Institute for Social Justice and Crime studied the Top Up Shops initiative, which allows residents struggling to make ends meet to fill a bag with food and suppliesworth up to £40 for a £2 donation, with no referral needed.
Key findings: University of Suffolk researchers Dr Mark Manning, Dr Isabella Boyce, and Dr Jennifer Coe spent 40 hours observing all 10 sites over 12 weeks in spring 2023, interviewing 20 service users aged 18 to over 70. They found:
The £2 fee helps maintain users' sense of dignity
Some bags contain enough food "to feed a small family for a week"
Visiting nurses have identified "serious health concerns" among users
The service helps signpost people to other support services
What they're saying: Dr Mark Manning said: "While Top Up Shops in Ipswich are by no means the only services delivering vital food and support locally, it is clear that Top Up Shops are considered to be highly effective in supporting those in need within their communities."
Reverend Lawrence Carey, who helped establish the service, said: "The Top Up Shops are about more than just food, they are about dignity and agency. By sharing God's love with our communities, in real and relevant ways we have seen people's lives be transformed."
The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, added: "The Top Up Shops have been a remarkable response for people who need help feeding their families and themselves. I have seen first-hand how they are not just sources of affordable food, but places of support and community."
One organiser, Anne, said: "I've got a vision for it, so I very much want it to be a kind of new expression of church within church... looking out for each other, just like it used to be in the old days when everybody knew everybody else's business and if there was a need, it was met."
Looking ahead: The research suggests wider strategic coordination of funding and logistics could boost the long-term sustainability of Top Up Shops. The service could help address three of the four priorities in Suffolk County Council's Tackling Poverty strategy.
The bottom line: As cost-of-living challenges persist, the Top Up Shops are providing more than just affordable food – they're creating new communities and delivering vital support services across Ipswich.
You can read the full report here.
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