A record number of emergency food parcels were handed out in London in the past year, statistics from the Trussell Trust show.
More than 454,000 were distributed by food banks in the trust’s London network between April last year and March this year — more in the space of 12 months than ever before. It is a 171 per cent increase compared with five years ago.
London has seen the highest increase of any region in the UK over the last year.
The Trussell Trust said two thirds of all support provided by its food banks in the capital last year was for families with children.
Shahid Mughal, interim head of food services at Southwark Food Bank, said: “We are consistently seeing unprecedented levels of need. Over the last 12 months, we’ve distributed 4,273 food parcels to local households who need our support, with 34 per cent being families with children.
“Not being able to afford the essentials like food or heating has a huge impact on the wellbeing of people who need food banks.
“Many of the people we support are grappling with financial debt and the escalating cost of living, as well as dealing with physical or mental health conditions.
“With Universal Credit falling so far short, food banks like ours are under immense pressure and this cycle simply can’t continue.”
Ahead of a general election, the Trussell Trust has called on political parties to commit to tackling the problem, urging them to back a “supportive social security system”.
Emma Revie, its chief executive, said: “It’s 2024 and we’re facing historically high levels of food bank need. As a society, we cannot allow this to continue.”
The charity warned that the picture is unlikely to change in 2024/25 unless “bold action” is taken.
Additional cost of living payments from government have come to an end, “leaving many people at a financial cliff edge,” it said.
The Government said its cost-of-living support package had prevented 1.3 million people falling into poverty in 2022-23.
