Understanding Society User Support

Many thanks for your enquiry. The Understanding Society team is looking into it and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

We aim to respond to simple queries within 48 hours and more complex issues within 7 working days. While we will aim to keep to this response times due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) related situation it may take us longer to respond.

Best wishes,
Stephanie

Dear Fatemeh,

In the data currently available, we have two variables relating to food which may be of some help: xpfood1 and xpfdout in the household questionnaire. These relate to how much households spend on food.

From Wave 12 we have added some new questions on food bank use and food insecurity. The Wave 12 questionnaire should be available on the website soon, but in the meantime, the food bank questions are:

Foodbank
How often has your household used a food bank, or similar service, in the last 12 months?
1. I have not used a food bank
2. At least weekly
3. About once or twice a month
4. Less than once a month

[If Foodbank =1]
Foodbankno
Why was that?
1. Have not needed to use a food bank
2. Have not wanted to use a food bank
3. Have not been able to use or access a food bank

These were designed to find out (a) nationally representative figures on foodbank use and (b) why people don’t use foodbanks. This is because there’s a lot of evidence out there about people who do use them and why, but precious little about who doesn’t and what stops them.

The food insecurity questions will be the UN-FIES 8-item measure, as given in the document I have uploaded.

Best wishes,
Stephanie

Dear Fatemah,

The fieldwork for Wave 12 has only just started, so the data won't be available until November 2022.

Best wishes,
Becky

On behalf of User Support