The demand for food banks in the UK has sharply increased, with the latest statistics from the Trussell Trust indicating that over 14.1 million people faced hunger in the past year due to poverty, up from 11.6 million in 2022. Food banks such as Nourish Community Foodbank, serving Tunbridge Wells and south Tonbridge in Kent, report that they are experiencing unprecedented levels of need.
Dawn Stanford, the operations director at Nourish, noted a 37% rise in referrals this year, stating the organization is at “crisis point.” She highlighted that financial donations have been insufficient to meet the increased demand, attributing part of the issue to the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has affected many potential donors. Currently, only about 25% of the food they provide is through donations, with the remainder needing to be purchased.
Similarly, Faversham Food Bank has reported challenges in receiving sufficient donations. Dominic Deeson, chairman of trustees, noted that while they are still receiving enough support, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain supply without financial contributions. He expressed concern about potentially needing to purchase food to keep up with demand, which they have not yet had to do.
In response to these challenges, Kent County Council launched a food voucher scheme for struggling families, though applications closed on August 26. In May, the Trussell Trust highlighted that the number of food parcels distributed to families with children in the South East had increased by 56% over the last five years.
The Department for Work and Pensions has stated its commitment to addressing the rise in food bank use. Measures being implemented include expanding free school meals and an upcoming strategy by the Child Poverty Taskforce aimed at supporting the most vulnerable families. Kent County Council has been approached for further comment on the situation.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gzwp2j0zxo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss