Christian charity says ‘majority of low-income families relying on food banks have children’

Seven out of 10 families who receive supplies from food banks run by the Trussell Trust, a Christian charity, have dependent children, research by Sheffield University’s political economy research institute found.

Almost 600 households with children under the age of 16 were surveyed, with four out of five classed as “severely food insecure”, meaning they had skipped meals and gone without eating, sometimes for days, said the report.

Single parents using food banks were most likely to report rising food and housing costs.

Dr Rachel Loopstra, the report’s lead author, said: “Our findings draw urgent attention to the severe food insecurity and poverty experienced by families with children who are receiving help from food banks.

“Low-income families with children have experienced significant reductions in welfare entitlements in recent years, and entitlements will be reduced further for low-income families given changes to child tax credits and the ongoing benefit freeze in the context of rising living costs.

“If financial support is not increased for low-income families with children, it is likely more children and their parents will need to use food banks in the years to come.

“Annual measurement of food insecurity in a national survey is needed to monitor vulnerability to this serious problem among households with children.”

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie…