2.5 million food parcels distributed by Wiltshire-based Trussell Trust in last year
The charity's CEO says she's "very proud" of its record-breaking efforts
Last updated 6th May 2021
The Trussell Trust, a Wiltshire-based food bank charity, has revealed it handed-out a record 2.5 million emergency food parcels between April 2020 and March 2021.
That's a 33% year-on-year increase. Almost 1 million went to children - nearly two parcels every single minute.
In Wiltshire, the charity distributed 11,366 aid packages over that period.
Of those, 4,613 went to children - the equivalent of 89 every week.
Alarming figures
This is not the first occasion that the charity has experienced a rise, warning that the demand for its services is increasing every year.
The latest figures are 128% higher than the corresponding statistics from five years ago, 2020/21 being the first time the number of parcels handed-out exceeded two million.
The charity, which opened its inaugural food bank in Salisbury 21 years ago, has called the figures "alarming" - warning that they are just "the tip of the iceberg".
Why are people needing food banks?
The pandemic has caused high rates of unemployment and record redundancies across the country.
With more people needing help, many are turning to food banks.
According to the Labour Market Overview, from November 2020 to January 2021 the UK unemployment rate for those aged 16 and over was 5% - up from 3.9% during the previous year.
Redundancies also increased by 138% between April and July 2020.
The Overview is now urging all levels of government to act, calling for candidates running in local elections to commit to working towards ending the need for food banks.
'No one should face the indignity of needing emergency food'
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, described the figures as "really shocking".
"The reasons why people are using food banks are largely unchanged, that is because people find themselves in a situation where they don't have enough money for the essentials," she said.
"In many instances that's where people have experienced the loss of a job, or become too unwell to work, or (they are) living with issues like having a disability or being a single parent.
"The money they are receiving from social security is just not enough to cover the cost of essentials ... no one should face the indignity of needing emergency food.
"After a difficult year, I'm very proud of the volunteers and everyone working in food banks across the country".
People can find their nearest food bank by visiting the Trussell Trust website.