Surrey and Hampshire food bank charity launches campaign after record demand during pandemic

A charity with food banks across Surrey and Hampshire has launched a campaign to end food poverty as new statistics show a huge increase in demand this year.

The Trussell Trust which supports sites in our area including in Farnham. Woking, Farnborough and Alton, says April to September was its busiest ever half year period, with demand up by nearly 50%.

During the first six months of the pandemic it provided nearly half a million food parcels for children alone countrywide - 2,600 a day.

In total, it handed out more than 1.2 million emergency food parcels across the UK.

The charity warns these figures are the tip of the iceberg, as many people will have been helped by other community groups.

It warns with redundancies at a record high, we could still see high demand this winter.

It says "welcome steps" have been taken by the UK government but longer-term action is needed.

It is calling for people to join the campaign to build a Hunger Free Future.

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, says:

“Throughout 2020, communities across the country have stepped in to provide vital support to people left without enough money. Volunteers in food banks have been working hard under extremely difficult circumstances to make sure support is there for people struggling to afford essentials. But it’s not right that any of us are forced to a charity for food, at any time of year.

“In the last few weeks, we’ve seen incredible compassion and concern for people facing hunger following Marcus Rashford’s brilliant campaigning. And it's hugely welcome to see the government build on steps already taken by providing significant new funding for local councils in England. This vital local support must work in coordination with a national welfare system that is strong enough to act as a lifeline to anyone struggling to afford the essentials.

“This pandemic has shown the unexpected can hit us suddenly, with devastating consequences for people’s lives. But it’s also shown we can make huge changes to the way we live and look after each other. It’s shown that when we come together to push for change, the government responds. Together, we can build a hunger free future.”

The Trust is asking the government to ensure money is kept in the pockets of people who need it most by:

1. Locking in the £20 rise to Universal Credit, brought in at the start of the pandemic, and making sure that people currently excluded, such as people receiving payments through the legacy system, get this money too.

2. Helping people hold on to more of their benefits by suspending benefit debt deductions until a fairer approach to repayments can be introduced.

You can find your nearest one here.

• the trussell trust
• food banks