The majority of independent food banks have reported that they are ‘overwhelmed’ by the increasing demand for their services as food inflation hits 16.7%.
A survey of 85 organisations running 154 independent food banks in 81 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales this month found that 89% saw demand increase when they compared December 2021/January 2022 with December 2022/January 2023.
Polled by the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), over 80% of organisations reported supporting a significant number of people needing help for the first time as well as people needing regular support.
Half of the contributing organisations said if demand increased, they would have to reduce the level of support they could provide or turn people away.
Increases in the cost of living were the primary cause of soaring demand, according to IFAN. This was followed by inadequate wages and waiting times for a first Universal Credit payment.
A third of independent food banks reported sanctions and benefit deductions as reasons behind their use this winter.
Sabine Goodwin, coordinator of IFAN, said: ‘The pressure on people struggling to afford food, and independent food bank teams trying their utmost to provide support, is relentless. However welcome April’s increase in social security payments will be, they won’t match the cost of living nor account for the impact of debts accrued over the winter. And work is clearly not providing a route out of poverty as more and more people in employment seek help.
‘The Government’s reliance on a charitable food aid response to the UK’s poverty pandemic is unsustainable and unethical. People across our society must be able to count on a Living Income - whether that be through adequate wages or a fit for purpose social security system.’
