Norfolk foodbank says there's a 'real concern' demand on them will continue to rise
Over 7,000 emergency food parcels have been given out to children in Norfolk so far this year
The head of a foodbank in Norfolk is telling us there's real concern that demand on them will continue to rise - unless more's done to support those struggling to afford the basics.
Data from 'The Trussell Trust' charity shows that over 20,000 emergency food parcels have been handed out in our county this year.
That figure's more than double the number recorded in 2018.
"We're seeing people come to us again and again"
Hannah Worsley is project lead at Norwich foodbank. She told us what's behind this rise:
"We're seeing people facing problem around debts, essential costs rising and low-income.
"Our in-house Citizens Advice workers had 230 clients, between April and September, and they were facing 900 different issues.
"We're seeing people come to us again and again.
"It used to be much more one-off, where people would come to us with an immediate crisis and we'd then resolve that.
"Now, we're seeing that increasing numbers are dealing with sustained poverty, while charities are seeing their own costs spiralling."
The data for Norfolk, in more detail:
Total parcels (April 1st to Sept 30th 2018)
10,654
Total parcels (April 1st to Sept 30th 2024)
20,517
(Difference: 9,863)
**
Parcels given to adults (April 1st to Sept 30th 2018)
6,927
Parcels given to adults (April 1st to Sept 30th 2024)
13,295
(Difference: 6,368)
**
Parcels given to children (April 1st to Sept 30th 2018)
3,682
Parcels given to children (April 1st to Sept 30th 2024)
7,222
(Difference: 3,540)
**
Total number of foodbanks (2018)
34
Total number of foodbanks (2024)
44
(Difference: 10)
What's the Government said on this?
In their 2024 election-winning manifesto, The Labour Party said:
"Labour is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty. We want to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels, which is a moral scar on our society."