Record 1.6 million food bank parcels given out in past year

April 2018 to March 2019 has been the busiest year for food banks in its history, according the Tressell Trust.

During the past year, 1,583,668 three-day emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis in the UK - an 18.8% increase on the previous year.

The number of food parcels given out across UK has now soared by 73% in the last five years.

The Trust says that the main reasons for people needing emergency food are benefits consistently not covering the cost of living (33%), and delays or changes to benefits being paid.

Almost half (49%) of food bank referrals made due to a delay in benefits being paid in UK were linked to Universal Credit.

From this data, and other insights from food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network, the charity believes ending the five week for a first Universal Credit payment should be the Government’s first priority to help create a future without food banks.

The Trussell Trust’s chief executive Emma Revie said:

“What we are seeing year-upon-year is more and more people struggling to eat because they simply cannot afford food. This is not right.

“Enough is enough. We know this situation can be fixed – that’s why we’re campaigning to create a future where no one needs a food bank. Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty. Universal Credit should be part of the solution but currently the five week wait is leaving many without enough money to cover the basics. As a priority, we’re urging the government to end the wait for Universal Credit to ease the pressure on thousands of households.”

For more information see Record 1.6 million food bank parcels given to people in past year as the Trussell Trust calls for end to Universal Credit five week wait

Disability Rights UK supports the Trussell Trust’s #5WeeksTooLong campaign is calling for an end to the 5 plus week wait for Universal Credit.