Emergency food parcel distribution in the UK: April– September 2023 Background

Food banks in the Trussell Trust network have seen the highest levels of need for this period, even superseding the peak reached during the pandemic Food banks in the Trussell Trust network distributed close to 1.5 million (1,496,847) emergency food parcels between 1 April to 30 September 2023. [...] Hunger in the UK (2022), The Trussell Trust, 3 The research is based on an online survey by the Trussell Trust of 184 food banks in the Trussell Trust network across the UK. [...] I'm worried.” Food bank in the Trussell Trust network4 The rising cost of living has pushed figures even higher this year, but the scale of need seen in the first half of this year reflects the significant year on year growth we have seen in the last five years and beyond. [...] However, it is a 52% increase in the number of families using a food bank in the network for the first time compared to the same period in 2021.20 This reflects the long-term rise in levels of deep poverty, compounded by increasing numbers of people experiencing financial hardship due to the cost of living crisis. [...] What this means for policy We welcome the action taken by the UK Government during the last two years to help mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis, particularly the decision last Autumn to uprate benefits with inflation and the provision of Cost of Living Payments.