55,000 people across Bucks, Beds, and Herts have received a food parcel since April
Trussell Trust tell us the need for help is unprecedented
The number of emergency food parcels given out to people across Bucks, Beds, and Herts rose by almost 20% between April and September this year, compared to the same period in 2021.
New figures from the Trussell Trust reveal that, 55,000 food parcels were handed out across the three counties between April-September - up from 8,857 in the same period last year.
The Trussell Trust, which supports more than 1,300 food bank centres, says the cost-of-living emergency has created a "tsunami of need", as people struggle to survive amidst soaring costs of living.
Over the last six months, 320,000 people from across the UK have been forced to turn to a Trussell Trust food bank for the first time - a rise of 40% compared to last year.
In total, around 1.3 million emergency food parcels went out to people between April and September. Almost half of a million went to children.
The charity says it's an increase of more than 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust, said: “These new statistics show that, even in summer months, people are struggling to afford the essentials and we are expecting that this winter will be the hardest yet for food banks and the people they support. This is not right."
Jessica Foster, Head of Church Engagement at the Trussell Trust, told Greatest Hits Radio the level of need is unprecedented and, for the first time, it's outstripping donations: "People are coming who cannot afford to cook food, they don't want to put their ovens for a long time, they're looking for food that can be made simply in a kettle or doesn't need heating up.
"It's creating a tsunami of need that is heart-breaking."
Jessica goes on to explain that food banks are opening outside normal hours to accommodate people in work. That's because they estimate 1 in 5 bank users are from working households.
"People are being forced to use food banks, something no one ever wants to do. People in work, people on benefits, people with families, people on their own, people who are caring, people with disabilities... it's sweeping through our country and it's heart-breaking to see it.
"The cost of living is rising so sharply and so steeply. We know of people who are working and are skipping meals, are not eating and are having to come to food banks. Food banks are having to open outside of normal hours so that those working can access support.
"It is a real crisis, it's unlike anything we've ever seen. We're expecting this to be the toughest winter we've ever had, and we're doing everything we can to support our volunteers and our staff who are on the frontline and hear heart-breaking stories day after day."
Food banks at breaking point
The Trussell Trust charity warns that food banks are at "breaking point", both physically and mentally, and are set to face the hardest winter yet as they expect to provide more than 7,000 emergency food parcels a day on average in the next six months.
The charity is calling on the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to act decisively in next week’s Budget, welcoming the cost-of-living payments issued to people on the lowest incomes in July, saying it correlated with a small dip in need at food banks that month.
An additional cost-of-living payment of £324 will be issued to 8 million households this month, by the 23 November, the Government has confirmed.
However, the charity warns that short-term interventions are neither sustainable for Government nor dignified for people who are struggling, and they don’t solve the longer-term problem of people having to rely on food banks.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust, said: “We know that with the right support and a stable and sufficient income, people don’t need to turn to food banks for support. Over the last few years, the government has acted to protect people who are struggling, and this action has had made a difference.
“We are calling for the Prime Minister to act decisively in next week’s budget. We urge the UK government to realise their commitment of supporting people on the lowest income with a broad package of support. As well as ensuring that benefits rise with inflation as soon as possible, this must go further to close the gap between price rises and incomes over the winter.”