The Trussell Trust is calling on the government to take urgent measures to strengthen the social security system to keep up with the cost of living. Data from April 2021 to March 2022 shows a 14 percent increase in food parcels distributed across the UK compared to pre-pandemic levels.
As the cost of living crisis continues, South and East Bristol foodbank are seeing uptake for their services double with many more people using the service for the first time. The recent upsurge in demand has resulted in diminishing food stocks with certain items urgently needed as of May 16, 2022.
The increase in the cost of living and energy bills in particular is resulting in more people finding their income is not enough to see them to the end of the month. The demand for food banks across the UK has increased by 81 percent in the last five years.
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South and East Bristol food bank deputy manager, Mariam Detts said: “We’re definitely seeing an increase in demand, the amount of people that we’re seeing come to the foodbank has risen a lot in the last few months. Our warehouse stock level is just getting lower and lower.
“We’re definitely seeing a lot more clients who are coming for the first time. The money that they’re getting in isn’t really reaching the end of the month.
“Our last foodbank session of the month is busier because people just can’t make their money stretch that far. A lot of people that I’ve had conversations with they’re talking about how it is the cost of living, the cost of energy bills particularly I think is having an impact on people.
“We’ve also seen an increase in Ukrainian refugees coming to the foodbank, so that’s just starting to take place now. We’re trying to look at how we can better support them as they arrive in the UK and connect more with the Ukrainian refugee hubs that are being set up in Bristol.
“There are definitely more people who are just working and aren’t on benefits, are having to use the foodbank because the cost of living is just so high that people can’t afford to heat their homes and feed their families.
“Also for people on benefits, the benefit system is not really matching the rise in living costs There’s an imbalance there where people are seeing their benefits aren’t supporting them throughout the whole month so people are having to come in at the end of the month to keep them going until their next benefit payment comes in.”
On a Friday session at the Easton foodbank, the workers and volunteers are sometimes seeing as many as 30 people come to use the service whereas around the same time last year there were between eight and 10 people accessing food parcels per session. On average the numbers are now double what they were during the spring and summer of 2021.
The Trussell Trust runs a total of 15 foodbanks across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The South and East Bristol foodbank is spread across six locations and run in partnership with In Hope. Other than food parcels those accessing food parcels can connect with support workers and get advice on benefits, bills and budgeting.
Food donations can be dropped off at supermarket collection points and urgently needed food items are regularly updated on the foodbank’s Facebook page. Currently the South and East Bristol foodbank is in need of the following items: toilet roll, jam, tinned fruit, tinned potatoes, shampoo/conditioner, savoury snacks, rice pudding, tinned fish and instant coffee.
