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In January 2024, 15% of families in the UK experienced moderate or severe food insecurity – that’s about 8 million adults and 3 million children. Families are struggling to feed themselves in times of food inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Food security – ensuring everyone has reliable access to enough affordable, safe, nutritious food - has been a priority for UK governments for decades and is a major concern for food policy researchers. So why, in one of the richest countries in the world, is this so difficult to achieve?  

What policies are available to support families and why aren’t these being more effectively used? What can policy makers learn from families who’ve experienced food poverty? What progressive policies can give us hope for the future?  

Join Sheila Dillon from BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme to explore this issue with Professor Christina Vogel from the Centre for Food Policy, GP Dr Chi-Chi Ekhator and Leah Ndegwa, mother of two and public health advocate. 

Included in Food Season Big Weekend Saturday or Weekend tickets, or available to book as a single session. Discounts available for over 60s and BL Members and half-price tickets for students and under 26s  

Sheila Dillon has been a food journalist for over three decades, beginning work as an editor and writer at the New York based magazine, Food Monitor. Then moving to BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, first as reporter, then producer and now presenter. Early on in her work at The Food Programme she covered the breaking scandal of BSE, the rise of GM foods, the growth of the organic movement from muck and magic to multi-million pound business, the birth of the World Trade Organisation and irradiation at a time when those subjects were not even a gleam in a newshound´s eye. Recent programmes on hospital meals, Ultra-Processed Foods, the government’s failure to implement the National Food Strategy, and the role of wholesale markets in the UK carry on the tradition. She was also the creator of Radio 4’s first interactive grocery show, Veg Talk, launching Greg Wallace onto an unsuspecting world. Her investigative work has won many awards including the Glaxo Science Prize, Caroline Walker award plus several Glenfiddich & Guild of Food Writers Awards. The citation attached to her honorary doctorate from the University of London, said “ her journalism has changed the way we think about food." 

Dr Chi-Chi Ekhator is a GP in London and a GP Appraiser for NHS England. She is Vice Chair of Ascension Trust, an organisation known for initiatives that seek to help the vulnerable in society. Dr Chi-Chi leads the AT Beacon Project, a health initiative of Ascension Trust working on the ground in the heart of neighbourhoods with key partners and stakeholders to address health inequalities. Their health and wellbeing hubs are in sites such as a social supermarket, a barber shop, churches, and an inner-city estate. Their aim is to help vulnerable communities in London live healthier, flourishing lives. She has led a successful fruit and vegetable on prescription pilot in London for those living with long-term health conditions - funded by the Public Health team at Lambeth Council and Impact on Urban Health, the Alexandra Rose Charity and the AT Beacon Project partnered to deliver one of the UK’s first Fruit & Veg on Prescription projects. Her work has featured on various media platforms including BBC NewsNight, BBC News at six, BBC Radio 4 Food Programme, BBC Radio 4 Beyond Belief, Doctor’s Kitchen Podcast and BBC Songs of Praise. She is an accomplished public speaker engaging national faith leaders, national Public Health leaders, Clinical Leaders, Academics and Government. Dr Chi-Chi has led several medical projects in less resourced countries and communities around the world and was part of the Bishop of London’s Health inequalities action group (HIAG), an interfaith group of leaders exploring health inequalities in the capital and how faith groups contribute to supporting health. Dr Chi-Chi takes an active role in her community and was previously an elected school governor overseeing special educational and disability needs, aspects of health and safety and welfare of the school community. 

Leah Ndegwa is passionate about improving policies to support everyone to feed their families well, address inequalities and tackle discrimination. Leah is a mother of two and has shared her experiences of raising children under challenging economic circumstances and racial stigma with research teams to improve experiences for others. Leah has extensive experience providing the public perspective to research projects focused on improve health and well-being. Leah also works as an Occupational Therapist specialising in Mental Health and Vocational Rehabilitation. 

Professor Christina Vogel is the Director of the Centre for Food Policy, Professor of Food Policy and a registered nutritionist. Her research aims to inform the development, implementation and evaluation of food policies and interventions to improve population health, reduce inequalities and protect our planet. Her work adopts a food systems approach and investigates the wider determinants of diet. Community participation and public voices are also integral to her research and policy recommendations to ensure they are appropriate and help shape fairer, more sustainable and more resilient food systems. Christina leads several major research grants from NIHR PHR, NIHR PRP and the Wellcome Trust. Some of her current projects include evaluations of the UK Government’s Food (Promotions and Placement) legislation, the Healthy Start scheme, and systems investigation of the UK convenience store sector. Christina’s research has informed local, national and international policy documents including the House of Lords Select Committee report on Food, Poverty, Health and the Environment, the WHO European Region’s 2022 report on obesity and local authority plans. Her work has received national and international press coverage, and she is Deputy Editor of the scientific journal Public Health Nutrition. 

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