Startling new figures show that the Trussell Trust network provided almost 3 million (2,986,203) emergency food parcels to people experiencing hardship over the past 12 months – with over 1 million parcels going to children across the UK.
On Wednesday 26 April 2023, we released our stats on the number of emergency food parcels that Cirencester Foodbank, provided within the Southern section of the Cotswold District between April 2022 and March 2023.
The figures reveal that we have provided 4,724 emergency food parcels to people who couldn’t afford the essentials across the South Cotswolds over the last year – and 2,190 of these went to children.
In addition to this, food banks across the Trussell Trust network provided nearly 3 million (2,986,203) emergency food parcels to people experiencing hunger during this time – with over 1 million of these going to children.
This is the most parcels food banks in our network have ever distributed in a single year and represents a 37% increase compared to last year, and more than double the amount distributed by food banks in the same period five years ago.
This isn’t right and cannot continue.
Cirencester Foodbank works, with its partners, to provide quality early advice and support that addresses the underlying issues that lead people into, and keep them in, food poverty. We work with experts with lived experience to understand the barrier and issue they face and, with them, advocate for changes and provision at a local level that ensures they can overcome the crisis they face.
No one should need the support of our food bank because everyone in our local community should be able to live lives free from hardship and poverty.
That’s why your support is needed now more than ever.
As we navigate these challenging times and do our utmost to meet the increasing need for our services, we would be most grateful if you could continue to donate items to ensure we can provide essential products to local people in crisis. You can find a list of what we need here or you can download the BanktheFood app to your phone for an up to date list.
Or you can make a financial donation that supports our running costs, and enables us to ensure initiatives such as our Foodbank support hubs can provide quality support and advice to local people.
We recognise how difficult times are right now, which is why we really appreciate all and any support you are able to offer. Together, we can ensure help is here for everyone who needs it in our area, whilst we also collectively work towards a more just future where no one needs our food bank to get by.
Thank you for all that you’re doing.
For more information on nationwide Trussell Trust Foodbank figures visit https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/end-year-stats/