Peter Lazenby
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FOODBANKS across Britain are at “breaking point,” the Trussell Trust has warned — before increased winter heating costs leave households with even less money.
The charity, which runs 1,300 foodbanks across Britain, said that in a “tsunami of need” in the six months up to September, a record 1.3 million emergency food parcels were given out by its foodbanks — up a third on the same period last year.
They included 320,000 people asking for food for the first time, a 40 per cent increase.
The charity said that half a million food parcels were for children, and that 20 per cent of the hungry were from working households.
Donations are being outstripped by need for the first time in its history, it warned.
The Trussell Trust is the biggest organiser of foodbanks in Britain. At least 1,100 other foodbanks are run independently or by other organisations, including in schools and hospitals.
The trust called for urgent help in the government’s forthcoming Budget.
Josie Barlow, trust foodbank manager in Bradford, West Yorkshire, said: “We have seen a huge increase in people coming to the foodbank in the last two months compared with the same period last year and our stock levels are very low for this time of the year.
“So many people are struggling with bills and food prices.”
She said one recipient told her: “Milk is now a luxury.”
Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said: “These new statistics show that, even in summer months, people are struggling to afford the essentials and we are expecting that this winter will be the hardest yet for foodbanks and the people they support.
“This is not right. We are calling for the Prime Minister to act decisively in next week’s Budget.
“We urge the UK government to realise their commitment of supporting people on the lowest income with a broad package of support.”
She said benefits should rise with inflation.
Polly Jones, head of the Trussell Trust in Scotland, where more than 110,000 food parcels were distributed, said: “Everyone in Scotland should be able to afford the essentials — to buy their own food and heat their homes.”
A government spokesman said it was supporting people in need, including sending another cost-of-living payment this month — worth £324 — to over eight million people.
