Demand for food parcels drops, but food banks still struggle to keep up
The charity welcomes the 2024 Autumn Budget, while saying it is a “downpayment.”
The demand for food parcels dropped slightly between April and September 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to a report from the charity Trussell Trust.
The number of emergency parcels distributed by the charity’s food banks in the South East of England, including Oxfordshire, fell by eight per cent to approximately 153,000. Nationwide, the number decreased by 5% to just over 1.4 million.
However, these figures remain close to record highs. Compared to 2019, the need for food banks has surged dramatically, with increases of 78% in the South East and 69% nationally. The Trussell Trust attributes this sustained demand to a ‘weakened social security system’ that fails to protect vulnerable people from severe hardship.
“The soaring cost of living and COVID-19 pandemic drew more people into hardship,” the report reads, “but it is the longer-term failings of our social security system which continues to push people into hunger and hardship.”
The slight decline in numbers “may in part reflect recent income boosts,” such as lower inflation, increased benefits, and the unfrozen Local Housing Allowance rates, the report says. Despite this, the charity reports that food banks are struggling to meet ongoing demand.
“We are hearing from many food banks that they are struggling to keep up with the need in their communities, as they seek to manage the food banks resources and capacity at a time of extremely high need.”
Children continue to disproportionately rely on food banks, with 36% of parcels provided to those aged 0–16, who make up only 19% of the population. Food distribution to older adults has also risen significantly, with 48,000 parcels delivered to those aged 65 and over—four times the number distributed during the same period in 2019.
While welcoming the government’s Autumn 2024 budget initiatives, such as extending the Household Support Fund with an additional £421 million to support it, the charity says more action is needed.
“This is why we are calling for the UK government to swiftly follow up recent announcements with a much clearer plan to end the need for emergency food if we are to make meaningful inroads in turning the tide on hunger and hardship in this Parliament,” the report concludes.
“Autumn Budget announcements will only be the 'downpayment' on tackling financial hardship that the government claims if it is followed by action which goes much further.”