2016 set to break records as Trussell Trust blames benefit cuts
More than half a million emergency food parcels were handed out between April and September 2016, as the charity handing them out says Britain is heading for the greatest demand for foodbanks of any year on record.
The Trussell Trust said it gave 519,342 three-day emergency food packs – up 2.6 per cent from 506,369 during the same period in 2015.
Of these, 188,584 food parcels went to children.
The charity, which runs 400 foodbanks across the country, said the financial year of 2016/7 was on course to seeing the highest number of food parcels handed out in its twelve-year history.
Welfare changes and delays are to blame for the rise of foodbanks, the Trust said, accounting for 44 per cent of all referrals. A hotline for each foodbank’s nearest Job Centre Plus would help, it added.
Chief executive David McAuley said:
“As the number of emergency food parcels provided to people by foodbanks rises once again, it’s clear that more can be done to get people back on their feet faster.
Many foodbanks now host independent welfare and debt advisers but they cannot solve all the issues.
To stop UK hunger we must make sure the welfare system works fairly and compassionately, stopping people getting to a point where they have no money to eat.”
He added:
“It feels like we could be seeing a new era at the DWP with a consultation on work capability assessments and willingness to engage in dialogue with charities working on the front line.
A telephone hotline could build on this and go a long way to improving foodbanks’ ability to help get people out of a crisis faster.”
To reach hundreds of thousands of new readers and to make the biggest impact we can in the next general election, we need to grow our donor base substantially.
That's why in 2024, we are seeking to generate 150 additional regular donors to support Left Foot Forward's work.
We still need another 124 people to donate to hit the target. You can help. Donate today.
9 Responses to “Foodbank Britain: 500,000 food parcels in just five months”
Mick
Well in that case, the public are gluttons for punishment – Maggie was voted in three times and only finally ousted by her peers. (The Left have never forgiven that, BTW. It stole their limelight and they could only really ‘win’ the war against her by waiting for the Baroness to die.)
So there’s that and the huge 94 seat swing to the Tories in 2010, followed by further gains to a parliamentary majority last year. Only ineptitude and sleaze allowed Labour the deceptively earned-looking huge majority it had.
The public love themselves a bit of Tory government, when the party cooks with gas. Though as George Osborne said before May 2010, he wouldn’t have WANTED to be the axeman coming. What kind of madman wants to do things which could potentially drive away voters?
But context is everything. Tories GAINED voters.
Mick
And the tax? Read your news. The Tories have cracked down way harder than Labour did on corporate tax evasion.
ted francis
Ha ha ha ho ho ho! It’s the way you tell ’em Mick. Keep it up old chap, a healthy laugh is worth a thousand sighs.
Mick
Yup, that’s why I come here.