Across the Liverpool City Region, many communities face deep-rooted barriers to accessing good, nutritious food.
Life expectancy can be up to a decade lower than the national average, and children often grow up without the educational or economic opportunities needed to thrive.
Neighbourhoods are frequently classified as ‘food deserts’ — with limited access to fresh, affordable food — or ‘food swamps’, where unhealthy options dominate. Financial hardship, poor transport links, and a lack of nearby shops all contribute to the challenge of sourcing quality ingredients. Even when food is available, people face further hurdles: from lacking cooking equipment or knowledge, to dealing with physical and mental health issues that make preparing meals difficult.
The result is a system that fails to nourish, leaving too many without the means or confidence to eat well.
