Foodbanks set to give out one million emergency food parcels this winter
The Trussell Trust helps people across Bucks, Beds and Herts
It's predicted foodbanks in the UK could give out more than one million emergency food parcels this winter - a record number.
The Trussell Trust, which runs 1,300 foodbanks across the country including some here in Bucks, Beds and Herts, says they're facing 'unprecedented need' ahead of what's expected to be a busy few months.
Between December 2022 and February 2023, the charity gave out 904,000 emergency food parcels, and are projecting numbers to rise this year.
It's forecasted an extra 600,000 people will need foodbank support this winter, compared to last year.
Their prediction is based on the demand they've seen during the summer - with an increase in need between April and mid-September.
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said:
"We don't want to spend every winter saying things at food banks are getting worse, but they are.
"Food banks are not the answer in the long term, but while we continue to fight for the change that could mean they can be closed for good your local food bank urgently needs your support.
"They need donations of food for emergency parcels, and money to fund costs such as the purchasing of food to meet the shortfall in donations they are currently experiencing.
"One in seven people in the UK face hunger because they don't have enough money to live on. That's not the kind of society we want to live in, and we won't stand by and let this continue.
"Every year we are seeing more and more people needing food banks, and that is just not right. Together, we have roots into hundreds of communities, and while someone facing hunger can't change the structural issues driving the need for food banks on their own, thousands of us coming together can.
"We must end hunger across the UK so that no one needs a food bank to survive."
There's also a plea for communities to provide more donations and support for their local foodbanks.
The Trussell Trust say donations are stable, despite the growing need.
A survey of 282 of their foodbanks has found that in the last three months, 93% had to purchase food to keep up with the rising levels of demand, while almost one in three (32%) were concerned about being able to continue running at their current level in the coming months.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, has repeated a call made by various charities and children's organisations for free school meals to be extended to all pupils to try to tackle poverty and child hunger which he said 'have tremendous social and moral costs':
"That food banks are gearing up to support even more people than last winter is a damning sign that the Government has failed to support people through the cost-of-living crisis and presided over a decline in living standards."