A NEW scheme to fight food poverty will be launched next month.

The Greater Manchester Food Poverty Alliance hopes to bring individuals, politicians, churches, charities and businesses together to work towards a region in which no one goes hungry.

The aim of the alliance is to bring together the work of groups already operating and expand on the role of the public sector to tackle some of the issues around food poverty.

Among the groups attending the launch will be Farnworth Baptist Church and Bolton at Home.

Tom Skinner, director at Greater Manchester Poverty Action, the organisation behind the alliance, said: “This alliance will have a place for people from all walks of life, from all across Greater Manchester.

"Participants can be in the public, private or social sectors, and they can be leaders in positions of power, on-the-ground practitioners or people with experience of food poverty.”

According to the group, lower incomes and higher costs mean that many are struggling to put food on the table, and a healthy, balanced diet is becoming even further from their reach.

A study undertaken by the alliance shows that there are now at least 171 food banks and social food providers in Greater Manchester.

The joint strategic action will produce a Food Poverty Action Plan for Greater Manchester that will aim to both reduce and prevent food poverty, and support communities to plan and adapt to the challenge.

The alliance is asking people who have lived experience of food poverty to attend the launch and get involved.

Tom said: “The Alliance, and the Action Plan, will be stronger if co-produced with people who are living with the experience of food poverty.”

The launch event will be held on Tuesday, May 8 between 1pm and 4pm at the Main Hall of Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester, M1 1JQ.