Food bank use still rising in North Cotswolds

North Cotswold Foodbank continues to see high levels of people facing hunger and hardship, with 1,762 emergency food parcels given out between April 2024 and March 2025, an increase of just over 1% compared with the previous year. These parcels provided food for 4,466 people.

Across the UK as a whole, food banks in the Trussell community gave out almost 3 million emergency food parcels in the past year, according to new figures released this week. 2.9 million emergency food parcels were provided between April 2024 and March 2025, equivalent to one parcel every 11 seconds and a 51% increase compared to five years ago. Although the total number of emergency food parcels is lower compared to the record levels of the previous year, there is clear evidence that the slight decrease (8%) does not necessarily indicate reduced need as food banks across the UK continue to struggle to meet local need, and many report challenges with referrals due to other local services being stretched to breaking point.

The annual figures also show significant numbers of parents struggling to afford the essentials. Since 2019/20 there has been a 46% rise in emergency food parcels provided to families with children, and a 32% rise in parcels to support children under the age of five.

Many food banks in the Trussell community are now reporting seeing severe levels of hunger and hardship, with some parents forced to ration their own food to ensure they can feed their children, as well as people in such desperate situations that they open food parcels to eat before leaving the food bank. Many people seeking help still cannot afford the essentials, even after acting on advice.

Kevin Carden, Project Manager at North Cotswold Foodbank, said:

“Our food bank is continuing to see far too many people who are forced to need our help because incomes from work, and social security payments, do not cover the cost of essentials, such as food, bills, and toiletries. Addressing hunger and hardship must be a priority in ending the need for emergency food in the UK.”

Read the full article here

https://www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-research/news/more-than-1.8m-emergency-food-parcels-provided-for-families-with-children-in

Back to News