Nearly 10,000 emergency food parcels distributed in Colchester in six months - highest in Essex
An Essex foodbank is calling for urgent action after emergency food parcel distribution increases on last year.
Trussell Trust figures show the East of England and London are the only regions nationally where distribution numbers have gone up from 2023 - 1% in the East and 4% in London.
Numbers of emergency food distribution parcels in all other region in the UK have gone down compared to 2023.
These statistics cover the number of parcels provided by food banks in the Trussell community from April – September 2024.
The Trust defines an ‘Emergency food parcel’ as "typically a three-day parcel containing emergency food for one person." Food banks also distribute seven-day parcels.
Trussell have combined both three-day and seven-day parcels together to report the total number of emergency food parcels that were distributed.
In the East of England, 164,388 parcels were delivered from April to September in 2024, compared to 65,068 in 2019.
Greatest Hits Radio Essex have been speaking to Colchester Foodbank who are "not surprised" by these statistics.
Director, Nikki Ranson, has said:
"We've seen a clear upward trend in the number of people relying on our services.
"But it's not just abut food anymore, it's fuel poverty, child poverty, hygiene poverty. It's a symptom of a wider systematic issue.
Ms Ranson continues:
"What's needed is urgent and targeted action to tackle the root causes of poverty: ensuring wages meet the cost of living, providing support to those in need, and addressing the structural inequalities for so many people that are in this vulnerable position.
"Until these changes are made, foodbanks like ours will remain a lifeline for too many people in our community. Things have to change soon."
In Colchester 9614 emergency food parcels were distributed between April and September of this year, compared to 36 in 2019.
That's the highest of any region in Essex.
Southend-On-Sea have the second highest number at 8,827 parcels, then Braintree at 5,953.
The Trussell Trust have said "Food banks in our community gave out just over 1,428,000 emergency food parcels across the UK between April and September this year. This includes 508,000 parcels provided for children facing hunger across the UK."
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of Trussell, said:
“The sheer numbers of people still facing hunger and hardship across the UK is heartbreaking. This cannot go on and we refuse to stand by while so many of us are pushed to the brink, left without enough money to live on.
“You can help make sure food banks can continue to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice this winter by volunteering, donating, fundraising or campaigning to help end hunger in the UK.
“Meanwhile, alongside our community of food banks campaigning today in Westminster, we will continue to call for change. The UK Government was elected with a manifesto pledge to end the need for emergency food and the time to act is now. There have been promising steps, but we need a clearer plan with more decisive action to invest in our social security system, if we are to end hunger once and for all.”