Foodbanks in the Trussell Trust UK-wide network distributed 1.5 million food parcels to people facing hardship between 1 April and 30 September 2023 – an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2022.
Low incomes – especially from social security, debt, health conditions and issues with social security payments such as delays or sanctions – were the main reasons people were left with no option but to turn to a foodbank for help.
Here at North Cotswold Foodbank, we have also seen a record number of people turning to us for help. During the six months from April to September we handed out 602 emergency food parcels, a 26% increase compared with the same period last year. The increase is largely driven by a greater number of single adults seeking help.
Kevin Carden, Project Manager, said, “These statistics are extremely alarming. Day after day, people tell us they simply don’t have enough money to buy the basics. People in work, as well as people who cannot work, are increasingly being pushed into debt and forced to turn to a foodbank to survive.
Rising hunger and hardship have devastating consequences for individuals and our communities. That’s why we’re asking the UK Government to protect people from increasingly severe hardship and commit to putting an Essentials Guarantee into legislation so that, at a minimum, Universal Credit will protect people from going without the essentials.”
