Charity gives out 2.5m food parcels in 12 months

The Trussell Trust has revealed it has given out a record 2.5m emergency food parcels in the last year.

New figures from the charity show its UK network gave more than 2.5m emergency food parcels to people facing crisis between April 2020 and March this year.

More than 980,000 of these went to children.

Food banks in its network experienced a 33% increase in need during the past year – with a 36% rise in parcels given for children compared with 2019/20. 

The charity has warned that with need for emergency food increasing year-on-year, today’s figures highlight an alarming 128% rise compared to this time five years ago. 

It is also the first time the number of food parcels distributed has topped 2m. 

The charity is now urgently calling on all levels of government to act. It’s urging candidates standing in the upcoming May elections across England, Scotland, and Wales to commit to working to end the need for food banks and developing a plan to do so, if elected.

‘No one should face the indignity of needing emergency food,’ said trust chief executive, Emma Revie.

‘Yet our network of food banks has given out record numbers of food parcels as more and more people struggle without enough money for the essentials. This is not right but we know we can build a better future. This pandemic has shown the unexpected can hit suddenly, but we know when we push for change, united by our desire for justice and compassion, the government has to listen and act.  

‘We are asking you, the public, to write to your local candidates standing for election on 6 May, asking them to commit to working to end the need for food banks if elected. Together we can take action now to build a hunger free future.’ 

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