Suffolk foodbanks are handing out four times as many food parcels as in 2018
Over 11,000 emergency food parcels have been given out in Suffolk so far this year
A rep from The Trussell Trust, which has foodbanks in Suffolk, 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 charity shows that over 11,000 emergency food parcels have been handed out in our county this year.
That figure's around four times as many as in 2018.
"We're seeing people come to us again and again"
Hannah Worsley is from the charity. She told us what's behind this rise:
"We're seeing people facing problem around debts, essential costs rising and low-income...
"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 Suffolk in more detail:
Total parcels (April 1st to Sept 30th 2018)
2888
Total parcels (April 1st to Sept 30th 2024)
11,077
(Difference: 8,189)
**
Total number of foodbanks (2018)
16
Total number of foodbanks (2024)
19
(Difference: 3)
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."