Demand for food bank parcels hits new records across Staffordshire and Cheshire

The number of emergency food parcels given out to people across Staffordshire and Cheshire shot up near 25% between April and September this year, compared to the same period in 2021.

New figures from the Trussell Trust reveal that 49,690 food parcels were handed out in the region between those six months - up from 39,358 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."