More than 39,300 food parcels distributed in Northern Ireland as need continues to soar
The Trussell Trust warns there is a difficult winter ahead.
New figures released today from the Trussell Trust show the charity's Northern Ireland-wide network of foodbanks distributed a record number of emergency food parcels between April and September this year. More than 16,000 were provided to help children across here.
The charity is urging political parties in Northern Ireland to fully-restore the Northern Ireland Executive to use all its devolved powers to prioritise policies that will protect people from poverty and destitution.
We spoke with Jonny Currie, a spokesperson for the charity. He says that the situation will only get worse as people have increased bills coming up to the Christmas period.
“The fact it has been our busiest April to September on record, means we are incredibly worried about the winter ahead, and the scale of need that we are expecting to be at an unprecedented level here in Northern Ireland”.
Mr Currie went on to say how, ““These statistics are extremely alarming. An increasing number of children in Northern Ireland are growing up in families facing hunger, forced to turn to food banks to survive. A generation is growing up believing that it’s normal to see a food bank in every community. This is not right.”
The concern going into the winter period is whether they will be able to fill the foodbanks with the stock needed. The banks thrive off volunteers and donations. With poverty rising, these donations could decrease. Mr Currie said, “foodbank donation levels have remained quite constant, the people of Northern Ireland are incredibly generous. But the challenge is, need is rising, and that’s what’s having an impact on gaps that are starting to appear in terms of foodbank stocks.”
The Trussell Trust is encouraging people to show their support for people facing hardship by signing a petition urging UK political party leaders to support the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee to ensure that the basic rate of University Credit at least covers life’s essentials, such as food and bills.