Over 2.5 million people face hunger across the North West – the highest level in England
The research from the Trussell Trust reveals a quarter of people in the North West live in food insecure households
Trussell’s analysis estimates that across the North West in 2024, over 2.5 million people (2,570,000), including 670,000 children, faced hunger due to a lack of money. That’s the equivalent of one in four households and more than the entire combined populations of Lancashire and Cheshire, and the highest number of people facing hunger in any region of England.
Alarmingly, the survey, conducted by Ipsos, finds that children aged 0-5 in the North West are growing up in almost one in five households who have had to access emergency food from a food bank in the Trussell community in the past year. The true number is likely to be even higher, as this figure does not account for families supported by other food aid providers, or families who have not sought any help at all.
The charity’s landmark report also reveals the growing reality that paid work is no longer enough to prevent people in the North West from needing a food bank. Three in ten (30%) people referred to food banks in Trussell community are part of a household where someone is in work. People in manual and service roles – such as bus drivers and care workers – are among the working people most likely to face hunger, despite having a job.
Trussell found that very low incomes are the main driver of growing hunger and food bank need in the North West. Overwhelmingly, this is caused by flaws in the design and delivery of the social security system, compounded by too many jobs being inaccessible, insecure and not paying enough to cover essential living costs.
The survey of people referred to food banks revealed that, across the UK, families at food banks are left with just £104 a week after housing costs to cover all living expenses including food, utility bills, travel for work or school, and essential toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste. This is just 17% of what the average UK household has left after rent or mortgage payments, laying bare the harsh reality faced by too many people who are struggling to make ends meet.
The research shows over half (52%) of people in receipt of Universal Credit across the UK faced hunger in the previous year and almost a quarter (23%) were forced to access a food bank or other charitable food provision. Too often, social security isn’t providing the protection people need when work doesn’t pay – the majority (72%) of people in working households who have still needed to turn to food banks are also eligible to receive Universal Credit to top up their income.
Trussell finds that millions of people are facing hunger without reaching out to charitable food providers, revealing how hunger is becoming increasingly normalised in communities across the UK. Research among the general population in the UK shows that 61% of households who were going without food, did not access any form of charitable food support in the past year. Many (55%) didn't feel like they should because they did not feel they were facing financial hardship, a third (32%) that they did not think they were in enough need, and a quarter (23%) because they thought other people were in greater need than them.
But when people’s incomes are so low, the research shows that even a small change in household circumstance – such as a car breaking down, a bus route being cut or an unexpected bill – can be the tipping point that leaves them with no option but to turn to a food bank. This comes at a time when food banks are already under enormous pressure and many are struggling to meet extremely high levels of need, with over 330,000 parcels provided by food banks in the Trussell community in the past year alone.
Trussell says this report should serve as a stark warning for the UK Government to take urgent and meaningful action to meet its manifesto commitment to end the need for emergency food. This includes scrapping the two-child limit to ensure all children have the best start in life and providing better support to private renters on low incomes to keep up with the real cost of rents by uprating Local Housing Allowance in line with current rent levels. These actions would be positive steps towards reducing the need for food banks and lifting more people out of severe hardship.
Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at Trussell, said: “Hunger and hardship are increasingly seen as a normal part of everyday life in the North West. This is not an inevitable trend, but the result of systems that urgently need updating - particularly our social security system.
“It isn't right that millions of people from all walks of life - including pensioners, disabled people, working families, and carers - are struggling to make ends meet. Nobody in the North West should face hunger. The UK government rightly committed to end the need for food banks and ensure every child has the best possible start in life; this research is the benchmark against which they will be judged.
"Parents are telling us they are losing sleep, worrying about how they will pay for new shoes, school trips, keep the lights on, or afford the bus fare to work. We have already created a generation of children who've never known life without food banks. That must change. We have seen small steps of progress. We now need the UK government to match urgency with ambition to turn the tide of hunger and hardship, for good.”
Paul Harris, project manager at Salford Foodbank, said: “Hunger has become normalised in Salford because people just don’t have enough money to afford the essentials. As a food bank, we provide emergency food to support people through their toughest times - but this shouldn't be needed in the first place. Everyone deserves the dignity of being able to feed their family and we need urgent, systemic change so that nobody is forced to turn to a food bank.
“As rents go up, bills go up, and the cost of food goes up, we are seeing people on benefits and low incomes struggling and coming through our doors in increasing numbers. It feels like there is no way out of poverty for some people, and we need the government to take action now.”
Hits and Greatest Hits Radio have approached the Government for a statement.