Research from the Trussell Trust – Britain´s largest foodbank network – found one in five people referring to one of their foodbanks were from households where someone is working.
The Trussell Trust operates over half of the foodbanks in the UK, including the Southwark Foodbank. Figures from earlier this year show more emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September period than ever before. During this six-month period, Trussell Trust gave out 1.3m parcels – a third more than the same period in 2021.
According to an analysis done by the Mirror, the Trussell Trust fund is on course to distribute about 339,900 packages in December, compared to 257,500 last year. Levels of need outweigh donations for the first time in history. Many are forced to choose between heating and eating, and some foodbanks even provide cold food because people can no longer afford to heat meals.
At the Southwark Foodbank, volunteers are busy doing an important job, so SLL decides to talk to one of the people waiting. A middle-aged primary school teacher just got off work. In fear of being recognised, she wishes to stay anonymous. She still wants to share her story to help shed light on the problem.
“My sons are at home, hungry and freezing as we speak. I don´t even know what they are going to get for Christmas, but I know it won´t be anything like they´re used too” she says, visibly upset.
“This isn´t even a poor area, but foodbanks here don´t have enough resources to feed everyone because there are so many people struggling now. You know something is wrong when it has gotten to the point where a teacher working full time has to tend to foodbanks to be able to feed her kids.”
And she is not alone. The cost-of-living emergency has forced more than 320,000 people in the UK to turn to one of the 1,300 Trussell Trusts foodbanks for the first time. One in five referring to one of their foodbanks were from households where at least one is working. The poverty rate in Southwark is 26%, which is average compared to all London Boroughs.
To donate, volunteer or help to the Southwark Foodbank in any way, visit southwark.foodbank.org.uk
