Foodbanks, like the ones we aid, are fixed locations (for example, churches and community centres), where stocks of food are supplied free of charge to people who, for various reasons, are unable to provide for themselves. For some, this is the last resort, a short-term solution to a current problem, but for many, foodbanks are the be-all and end-all. Without the tireless work of those who run foodbanks across the country, many more people would be facing starvation. 

Typically, food banks operate on a referral system, partnering with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and local homeless shelters to identify people in crisis and issue them with vouchers redeemable at their nearest distribution centre. There are also some set up where you can arrive on their allocated day(s) during operational hours and be helped on a first-come, first serve basis. 

We know that anyone can find themselves at a crisis point for a number of different reasons. 

If you feel you are struggling to put food on the table, having to decide how best to spend your little money, please consider talking to a local food bank or soup kitchen about how they can support you. You can find contact details for your nearest food bank using the link below.

Despite being one of the most developed countries in the world, the United Kingdom struggles with a fairly significant degree of poverty. Poverty is usually measured in two ways- Relative Poverty and Absolute Poverty. The former measurement is the income of households which falls below 60% of the median income in that year. In contrast, Absolute Poverty is income below 60% of the inflation-adjusted median, for a reference base year.   

As of 2020, around 10.5 million people in the UK were living in relative poverty, with that number increasing to almost 13.4 million when housing costs are considered. During this year, it was also estimated that almost 2.8 million children were living in relative poverty before housing costs- a considerable increase when compared with 2013/14, when it was estimated that there were 2.28 million children in relative poverty. 

8.8 million people in the UK were considered absolutely poor in 2020/21 (of which were 2.3 million children), rising to 11.1 million people (including 3.3 million children) after housing costs were factored in.

In 2020/21, whilst the world was being plagued by Corona Virus, the number of people in the UK turning to foodbanks was at an all-time high, with over 2.5 million people receiving support from Trussell Trust foodbanks. Comparatively, just 12 years prior, the number of people getting emergency food was a mere twenty-six thousand. 

These numbers are absolutely eye-watering, but the truth is we can all do something to reduce these numbers. The problem is too big for one person to handle alone, which is why we need your help.

Sources: 

www.statista.com/topics/3809/poverty-in-the-uk/£dossierkeyfigures
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn07096/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/382695/uk-foodbank-users/