The need for foodbanks is an unfortunate symptom of the current economic situation in the UK. Over the past few years, the number of people in the UK in need of three-day emergency food supplies has steadily increased - from 1.35 million given out by Trussell Trust in 2017/18 to a record 2.99 million in 2022/23. This increase equates to a 121 percent increase over the period.
While recent food price inflation surely played its part here, Emma Revie, chief executive at the Trust says the causes are more diverse and deep-rooted: "These new statistics are extremely concerning and show that an increasing number of people are left with no option but to turn to charitable, volunteer-run organisations to get by and this is not right. The continued increase in parcel numbers over the last five years indicates that it is ongoing low levels of income and a social security system that isn’t fit for purpose that are forcing more people to access food banks, rather than just the recent cost of living crisis or the Covid-19 pandemic."
