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4416 emergency food parcels provided to people by Cirencester Foodbank in the last 12 months, as people struggle to get by on low incomes
15th May 2024
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New figures released today show the impact of the cost-of-living crisis as more households are forced to rely on Cirencester Foodbank for support.
- The 12 months to 1st April 2024 saw more households referred into the Foodbank that during the same period in 2020-21, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Almost half (42%) of households referred were receiving support from the Foodbank for the first time.
- The local levels of need were particularly acute around the school holidays with families continue to struggle when free school meals and other school food support such as breakfast clubs were not available.
This comes alongside worrying news from the Trussell Trust, who partner with Cirencester Foodbank, that show that more than 3.1 million food parcels were given out across the UK last year.
Anton Wynn, Head of Cirencester Foodbank, said:
“Despite the provision of cost-of-living payments from the Government over the year, local households in the Cotswolds continued to struggle with high housing costs, transport and energy bills. The continued crisis has pushed more households into negative budgets which has driven them into, and kept them in, debt.
This year, almost half of people referred to us had never needed to turn to the Foodbank. We often support local people who are on benefits, that have insufficient income to afford the essentials, but his year we also saw many people who were in employment referred in need of help.”
” I have been struggling for a while. I thought I had got to the end of winter, switching off everything I could to save money. I have been eating a tin of soup with a couple of slices of bread, making teabags last and using a flask to fill up instead of boiling a kettle. I had a bill I wasn’t expecting and that’s why I am here….it’s too much.”
Elderly person, with a long term health condition, referred to the Foodbank
Alongside the provision of emergency food, Cirencester Foodbank offers people who are referred to them a warm welcome, as well as connections to advice and support that makes it less likely someone will need the food bank again in the future. Working in partnership with Citizens Advice,
The support of the local community is vital in ensuring that Cirencester Foodbank can be there for anyone who turns to them for help, and we are grateful that strong donation levels have enabled us to ensure local households continue to be supported.
Cirencester Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s network, which reports record levels of need in the last 12 months with more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels provided to people facing hardship between April 2023 and March 2024. More than 1.1 million of these parcels were provided for children.
The Trussell Trust is calling for urgent reform of the social security system as it is currently failing in its most basic duty – to protect people from going without essentials we all need in life. Alongside many other organisations, the anti-poverty charity is urging the UK Government to introduce an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ into Universal Credit to ensure everyone has a protected minimum amount of support to afford the essentials.
Speaking about the rising need for emergency food, Emma Revie, Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust, said: “It’s 2024 and we’re facing historically high levels of food bank need. As a society, we cannot allow this to continue. We must not let food banks become the new norm. As we approach the next UK General Election, we urgently need all political leaders to set out how they will build a future where no one needs a food bank to survive. Voters want to see a change and we need cross-government action at all levels to deliver it. We know what’s pushing people to food banks, so we know what needs to change.
“A supportive social security system is the bedrock on which we end hunger for good, and we also need to ensure everyone can get the right support at the right time. People should be supported in a way that reflects the reality of their lives, especially if they’re facing the higher costs and barriers that impact certain groups such as parents, carers, disabled people. Everyone should have the security we all need to access opportunities and have hope for the future.
“Food banks are not the answer. They will be there to support people as long as they are needed, but by taking bold action our political leaders can build a future where everyone has enough money to afford the life’s essentials. The time to act is now.”
The Trussell Trust has set out the crucial actions the next UK Government must take to support people and ensure everyone has enough money to afford life’s essentials: trusselltrust.org/manifesto