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Bringing food to the table

Findings from the Citizens Advice Scotland national survey on food affordability, access and availability

The Citizens Advice Network sought to better understand the day-to-day realities that people in Scotland face when bringing food to the table. In order to achieve this, a survey was launched via both Citizens Advice Bureaux and media platforms (social and traditional). Ultimately, over 2,650 people living in Scotland took the time to complete the survey.

In terms of demographic factors:

  • Half of respondents (50%) were in some form of employment;
  • Over one-quarter (28%) of respondents lived in households with children;
  • One-third of respondents (33%) were aged 45 to 59 years, while 6% were below the age of 25 years.

With regard to purchasing food:

  • Almost two-thirds of respondents (65%) regularly purchased groceries at in-town superstores or large supermarkets;
  • Over one-quarter of respondents (28%) regularly used local/corner shops to buy groceries;
  • Over half of respondents (53%) travelled to stores using their own car, while 20% walked.

Food insecurity over the previous 12 months:

  • Almost half of respondents (45%) had worried about food running out before there was money to buy more;
  • More than one-third of respondents (37%) had cut down on the size of meals, or skipped meals altogether because they did not have enough money for food;
  • More than one-fifth of respondents (21%) had gone for a whole day without eating because they did not have enough money for food.
  • Food insecurity for those in employment: 

2,388 respondents provided information on their employment status with 45% in full-time or parttime employment:

  • 40% respondents in employment had worried about food running out before there was money to buy more;
  • More than one-third of respondents in employment (35%) couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals;
  • Over one-quarter of respondents in employment (29%) had cut down the size of meals, or skipped meals, because there wasn’t enough money for food they needed.
Author
Linda Hutton
Publication date
December 2018
Publication type
Policy
Number of pages
12
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