Data released on Wednesday shows December 2018 was the busiest month for food banks last year. The Trussel Trusts network for food banks provided 186,185 three-day emergency food parcels to people in crisis; 78,536 of these went to children. This is 44 per cent higher than the monthly average for the 2018-19 financial year.
Just weeks ago, the charity published figures for April – September 2019, showing that there has already been a 23 per cent increase in the number of food parcels provided compared to the same period in 2018.
The new figures follow the recent publication of ‘State of Hunger’, the most in-depth study to date into hunger and the drivers of food bank use in the UK.
The research revealed the average weekly income of households at food banks is only £50 after paying rent. One in five have no money coming in at all in the month before being referred for emergency food, and 94 per cent of people at food banks are destitute.
‘State of Hunger’ shows there are three drivers hitting people simultaneously and leaving no protection from hunger and poverty. These drivers are problems with the benefits system, ill health or challenging life experiences, and a lack of local support.
The Trussell Trust has encouraged people to donate to their local food bank. The help is provided at food banks across the UK for people pulled into crisis by increased pressure…
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