UK Gov Funds £8.5M Liverpool Project Using Mapping Tool to Improve Food Access

A new government-backed project in Liverpool aims to tackle food inequality by using a mapping tool to guide the Queen of Greens mobile greengrocer to areas with limited access to fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly targeting social housing residents. Led by the University of Liverpool under the SCHOUSE initiative, the project seeks to understand and address the barriers preventing healthy diets, offering fruit and vegetable vouchers and tracking the health impacts of these interventions. The Queen of Greens has been serving Liverpool and Knowsley communities since 2022, and this project will refine its routes based on data to maximize reach to food-insecure households. The initiative is part of a wider £8.5 million UK investment to reduce diet-related inequalities through innovative local solutions, aligning with national health strategies. Researchers will also model the potential effects of expanding similar schemes nationwide, informing future policy decisions. Officials emphasize the importance of such targeted efforts to improve public health and ensure equitable access to nutritious food in economically disadvantaged areas.