Families face ‘impossible decisions’ with record 1,300,000 needing food parcels

The chief executive of the Trussell Trust has urged the government to take ‘drastic action’ after figures showed a record number of people needing emergency food parcels across the UK.

Emma Revie gave a bleak picture of what the charity termed a ‘tsunami of need’, amounting to 1.3 million packages provided to those experiencing hardship in the six months to September this year. 

More packages were given out than in the same period at any point in the 25-year history of the foodbank network, with 320,000 people needing the support for the first time, a 40% rise on 2021.

The charity, which has launched its first ever emergency appeal for donations, is urging the government to take measures in next week’s Autumn Statement to alleviate the crisis. 

Ms Revie told Metro.co.uk: ‘When we look at the busiest six months we have ever had and then look ahead to winter, when people are having to deal with the cost of living and are turning on their heating, I fully anticipate this being our busiest winter ever. 

‘People are already struggling to make ends meet and are faced with impossible decisions, but as winter bites that will get worse and that’s very, very worrying. They are unable to afford things that all of us agree are essential, they are making decisions between heating their homes to keep their children warm and putting food on the table.

‘The decisions are affecting essential toiletries and essential travel to school or work. They are not decisions anyone should be having to make.

‘This is taking a toll on people’s physical and mental health and things we all absolutely need to go about their daily lives.’ 

The number of parcels between April and September is up a third on the same period last year and more than 50% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Demand for the support, typically a three-day package for one person, has rocketed amid rising food prices and the fuel cap price hike in April.

The network of 1,300 foodbanks is said by the trust to be at ‘breaking point’, physically and mentally, with the figures showing more than 7,000 parcels a day will be given out on average over the next six months.

One in five people referred to the network are in working households, according to research due to be released by the charity in the new year. 

Ms Revie, who is due to visit foodbanks in Scotland today, said: ‘People are coming to foodbanks and telling us they are unable to turn the heating on and they are skipping meals so they can feed their children.

‘We need drastic action from our government to ensure people are protected this winter, and we need it now.

‘We saw a slight impact with a dip in need at foodbanks in July when people received the government’s cost of living payment, so we know that was targeted at the right people in the right way, but it wasn’t enough.

‘Most people had spent that payment in its entirety, primarily on food and toiletries, by August. It wasn’t enough and it wasn’t long-term enough.’

Ahead of chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement a week today, the charity is calling for long-term solutions to the cost of living crisis, including for benefits to rise in line with inflation and to make sure the welfare state can provide a ‘lifeline’ through harsh financial times. 

‘Emergency food is at best a sticking plaster,’ Ms Revie said.

‘It can’t help someone to pay their heating bills or pay for new school shoes or a school uniform or essential travel to the doctors. 

‘This is what is deeply concerning, foodbanks are not the solution to the problems people are facing.

‘We need further intervention this side of Christmas to ensure people can afford the essentials and we need to ensure longer-term that our social security system is providing a lifeline to people who rely on it.

‘The short-term solutions, as welcome as they are, don’t provide this security and the assurances people need when they look ahead to next year with the energy costs going up.’ 

The charity issued the ‘tsunami of need’ warning in a press release today, with the figures also showing 483,677 children were among those being provided with parcels during the six months. As demand outstrips donated stocks, the hubs are having to buy provisions at a time of rising prices.

Josie Barlow, manager at Bradford Foodbank said: ‘Someone who came to the foodbank recently told me that “buying milk is a luxury now”.

‘So many people are struggling with bills and food prices. 

‘We are fortunate to be able to help people and we work hard to support them in both the short and long term, but we are also facing challenges. 

‘We have seen a huge increase in people coming to the foodbank in the last two months compared to the same period last year and our stock levels are very low for this time of the year.’ 

Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering raising state pensions and benefits such as universal credit in line with inflation, a move that would cost a combined £11 billion next year. The government has already introduced cost of living payments that include support for eight million people on low incomes who receive certain payments.

A spokesperson said: ‘We are directly supporting households in need following the aftershocks from the pandemic and Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, including sending another cost of living payment this month worth £324 to over eight million people, part of a £1,200 package for those on the lowest incomes. 

‘Our extensive immediate support for families also includes our Energy Price Guarantee, saving around £700 for a typical household over winter, and our Household Support Fund, worth over £1 billion to help people with essential costs, combined with longer-term changes such as altering universal credit to help people keep £1,000 more of what they earn every year.’

The Treasury also pointed out measures taken by the government to relieve the pressures on millions of households. 

A spokesperson said: ‘We’ve also reversed the rise in national insurance contributions and made changes to universal credit to help working households keep more of what they earn.’

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