We’re seeing soaring demand at foodbanks across the UK. This week we released new figures which show 586,907 emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis between April and September this year – a 13% increase compared to the same period the year before. 208,956 of these went to children.
We are concerned the situation will worsen in the months leading up to Christmas when demand for emergency food traditionally spikes, and when the number of foodbank clients in areas of full Universal Credit service will triple.
We have shared warnings about the rollout of Universal Credit since April. Parliament have responded and made the Universal Credit helpline free as a result of our campaigns. We have now taken further action and have unveiled a ‘five point plan’ to help prevent people going hungry at Christmas – a key part of this is a call for an urgent cut to the six week wait for Universal Credit payments.
Our foodbank referral data and University of Oxford research from earlier this year both suggest benefit levels are not preventing people from reaching crisis point. Ahead of the Budget, we are asking the Government to reassess its current four-year freeze on benefit levels. We predict these figures will continue to rise if no action is taken as we get nearer to another busy Christmas period, and whilst our network will be working hard to stop people going hungry, foodbanks cannot be relied upon to pick up the pieces.
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – the 2017 Tesco Food Collection is nearly upon us!
The Food Collection is a partnership between Tesco, The Trussell Trust and FareShare and runs from 20th November – 3rd December. ALL food donated is used locally and is an invaluable boost to foodbanks’ stocks at a time of year that when demand is high for emergency food. Tesco also generously tops up customer food donations, by making a financial contribution equivalent to 20% of the value of the food.
If you would like to help to people in your community this Christmas, please spare a few hours to help at your local Food Collection. Follow the link to find your nearest participating store.
Last year the foodbanks in our network received over 800 tonnes of food during the Tesco Food Collection and this year, with your help, we’re hoping to collect even more!
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