Measuring our impact – Household Support Fund

We’ve worked with Research Retold and the Social Value Engine to produce a report on the impact of the Household Support Fund through our work. This report covers our work redistributing food to organisations across Bradford through the Storehouse.

A similar report is available into the impact of the FoodSavers Network.

Empowering Bradford: The Local Impact of the Household Support Fund through Inn Churches

Overview of poverty in Bradford (2023-2024)

• 5th most income-deprived city
• 6th most employment-deprived city
• 36% of children live in relative poverty
• Fuel poverty levels above national average
• 25% economically inactive population
• 8% of adults suffered from hunger.

The Household Support Fund in Bradford and Inn Churches

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the need for food support, as rising costs strained families. In 2021, the UK government introduced the Household Support Fund (HSF), which became a lifeline for communities across the country.

Recognising Inn Churches’ networks and capacity, Bradford Council awarded them £1 million from the HSF. This funding was intended for food distribution through their ‘Storehouse’, a wholesale food hub that supplies community groups, pay-as-you-feel mini markets and pop-up pantries. Inn Churches met this goal and leveraged the funding to create lasting community impact.

Inn Churches

Bradford-based charity with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals facing financial and social difficulties. Aligning with the city’s Anti-Poverty and Good Food strategies, Inn Churches provides sustainable solutions to food and financial poverty, empowering vulnerable people to make lasting changes with dignity and choice.

Core operations supporting this mission:

• The FoodSavers Network of 25 independent pantries (18 in Bradford) that promote long-term sustainability and financial resilience
• Cooking Hub with daily sessions on healthy eating and food safety.

The impact report highlights:

• The positive impact of the HSF on the voluntary and community sector
• The added value provided by Inn Churches beyond food distribution
• The importance if long-term resilience strategies over short-term support.

Impact of HSF in Bradford via Inn Churches (2023-2024)

• Core impact: supported 35 organisations with bulk food purchases
• 160 tons of food diverted from landfill contributed towards 448,000 meals benefitting the environment, saving money and providing healthier fresh food to communities
• Developed the FoodSavers Nourishing Communities Vouchers in Bradford and Keighley, helping to improve health and wellbeing
• Opened 200 new FoodSavers Savings Accounts in partnership with Bradford Credit Union, positively impacting wellbeing
• Collaborated with universities on research helping food outlets identify funding beyond HSF
• FoodSavers accepted as good practice in the Good Food and Anti-Poverty strategies
• Secured £695,000 for food and financial resilience, with part dedicated to Darley Street Market – a cookery school, café and hub focused on nutritious food, reducing inequalities and improving health
• Hosting a Feeding Bradford and Keighley worker strengthened connections across the district
• Contributed to developing city-wide support infrastructure via bradfordfoodbanks.org.uk
• Hosted a Good Food Conference “Food for Health not Wealth” with national speakers to highlight the impact of the Good Food Strategy and to update professionals about the work going on nationally and locally
• The 35 organisations grew in their impact, boosting community cohesion and volunteer wellbeing
• Distributed 6,500 ‘Breaducation’ classes and seed growing kits.

Social Return on Investment for the HSF awarded to Inn Churches

£10.70 for every £1 invested (calculated using Social Value Engine calculations that take into account impact beyond food distribution)

SROI linked to 4 Sustainable Development Goals:

• 1 No poverty
• 2 Zero hunger
• 11 Sustainable cities and communities
• 12 Responsible consumption and production

The HSF awarded to Inn Churches demonstrated how targeted funding addressed the community’s immediate needs and strengthened resilience. To truly decrease dependency, we need to move away from transactional charity models and towards relational empowerment. We need to develop long-lasting solutions that tackle the underlying causes of poverty by emphasising systemic change and economic fairness. By prioritising behaviour change, choice, dignity, empowerment and financial inclusion people have the agency to thrive on their own. A strategy that accomplishes more than merely feeding people includes a social security system that is fit for purpose.