Laura Sharman 03 June 2020

Food banks report busiest month ever

Charities have called for councils to be given funding to help support families after food banks reported their busiest month ever.

Figures published by the Trussell Trust show that the number of families needing emergency food parcels soared by 89% during April 2020, compared to April 2019. The number of families with children receiving parcels also doubled compared to the same time period last year.

A coalition of charities is now calling on the Government to ensure councils have enough funding to provide emergency cash grants to struggling households.

The charities - including the Trussell Trust, IFAN, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Children’s Society, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), StepChange and Turn2us - are proposing a temporary?Coronavirus Emergency Income Support Scheme.

This includes increasing benefits to help with the costs of raising children, extending the suspension of benefit reductions to include advance payments, and lifting the benefit cap.?

Emma Revie,?chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: ‘We have been seeing rises in food bank need for the past five years but this 89% increase - with the number of families coming to food banks doubling - is completely unprecedented and not right. People need to be able to put food on their table.

’The Government must put urgent support in place to ensure people already struggling to keep their heads above water can stay afloat. We have outlined what we need our government to do - it’s in our power to protect one another, we’ve seen it during this health crisis, and we need it to continue during this economic one.’

Photo: HASPhotos / Shutterstock.com

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

KS2 Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650 - £43,607
KS2 Class Teacher   M1 – M6     £31,650 - £43,607 Full Time, Whole Time Temporary – required from 1st September 2025 until 31st August 2026  The head Bowburn
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Deputy Manager, Children’s Homes Service

Durham County Council
Grade 11 £39,513 - £43,693
The Role We are seeking Deputy Managers who will support the Registered Manager to ensure the delivery of high-quality care. You will work directly wi Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Independent Reviewing Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 14 £48,710 - £52,805 pro rata
Are you a child and family social worker with 5 years of post-qualifying experience looking for the next step of your career?   What is Involved? As a Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Class Teacher

Durham County Council
£31,650 - £43,607
Class Teacher M1-M6  £31,650 - £43,607 Full time, whole time Temporary – required from 2nd September 2025 until August 2026 The governors of Escomb P Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Crossing Patrol

Durham County Council
Grade 1 £3,968 (approx.) £12.45 per hour
Join our School Crossing Patrol Service! Are you punctual and reliable? Do you have good communication skills and a strong sense of community spirit? Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner