{
  "abstract": "Background/Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is an increasing concern in the UK. Early Help (EH) provided by social services, based on strengths-based conversations with families, can address wider social and economic needs experienced by families living with FI. This study aimed to describe needs identified through EH assessments among families attending foodbanks, the proportion of recorded needs met, and stakeholder experiences. Methods: A mixed-methods study was undertaken using 30 months of routinely collected social services data. Regression modelling examined associations between needs identified at the start of EH and the proportion documented as met at the end of support. Semi-structured interviews explored stakeholder experiences using Framework Analysis. Results: Records were available for 385 families comprising 1840 individuals (1108 children; 732 adults). Thirty-five categories of need were recorded, with 2646 needs identified (mean 6.9, standard deviation [SD] 3.2 per family). Of these, 2505 (95%) were documented as met, and 301/385 (78%) families had all identified needs recorded as met. In the primary quasi-binomial regression analysis (n = 378), longer duration of EH involvement was associated with a higher proportion of initially identified needs recorded as met (β = 0.139, p = 0.017). Area-level deprivation was also associated with the outcome (β = −0.179, p = 0.049), whereas household size was not (p = 0.249). The positive association with duration was supported by a Gaussian sensitivity analysis (p = 0.003). Interviews (n = 23) identified three overarching themes: systemic and structural drivers of FI; lived experiences and service engagement; and visions for improvement. Conclusions: Participants described practical and emotional support gained from EH. Families attending foodbanks had multiple needs across diverse domains and most needs were documented as met following EH involvement. However, the study design does not establish that EH caused these outcomes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK",
    "Manchester City Council, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA, UK",
    "Salford Royal Hospital, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Debra Jones",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-1479-3622"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Paul Clarkson",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0778-312X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Anthony Gilfillan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jeff Burns"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Sorrel Burden",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4967-647X"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7t75phvvw4n1h.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/nu18213698",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7t75phvvw4n1h",
  "issns": [
    "2072-6643"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3698",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-07",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7t75phvvw4n1h.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-10T00:21:40Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/nu18213698",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/21/3698"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "issn:2072-6643",
      "subfield": "nutrition"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Tackling Food Insecurity with ‘Early Help’ Provided by Social Services: A Mixed-Methods Study",
  "title_text": "Tackling Food Insecurity with ‘Early Help’ Provided by Social Services: A Mixed-Methods Study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-10T00:21:40Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7t75phvvw4n1h",
  "venue": "Nutrients",
  "versions": []
}