Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
The Big Issue Oasis Collector's edition is coming - sign up so you don't miss out!
SIGN UP
Social Justice

Trussell Trust calls for holiday hunger action as kids’ foodbank demand rises

The national foodbank charity gave 4,000 more emergency supplies to children last summer

Packages of food are lined along shelves and on the floor in a food bank

Packages of food are lined along shelves and on the floor in a food bank. Image: Trussell Trust

The Trussell Trust have revealed that they felt the pressure of holiday hunger last summer with 74,000 emergency food packages heading to children.

The national foodbank charity gave out 204,525 three-day supplies between July and August last year with 74,011 heading to children. By comparison, May and June saw only 70,510 packages supplied to kids.

https://twitter.com/TrussellTrust/status/1025275071030415361

Holiday hunger is the result of a perfect storm of declining donations as people jet off for summer breaks and increased demands as children are at home and not receiving free school meals.

Over a third of all food distributed by the 42-strong foodbank network goes to children. The difference that makes was outlined in a report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger last year that estimated holiday hunger costs £30-£40 per week to their outgoings for one child.

Last year, the tonnes of food dished out was more than the donations coming in and that has triggered The Trussell Trust to urge the public to speak to their local foodbank to help plug shortages.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

But long-term there must be better support in place to tackle hunger, explains Samantha Stapley, director of operations at The Trussell Trust, in the form of unfreezing child benefits and tweaks to Universal Credit work allowances.

“Foodbanks cannot, and must not, be a long term to solution to hunger at any time of year,” she said. “No one should face going hungry, and although our network will be doing all they can this summer to help families struggling to make the money they have stretch to cover the essentials, no charity can replace people having enough money for the basics.

“There are changes we can make as a nation to help during the holidays, but if we are to protect each other from hunger whatever the time of year, we have to go further than that. We know particular groups of people are most likely to need a foodbank, so let’s make sure no one is swept into destitution. Our benefits system can, and must, act as an anchor to protect people from being pulled into poverty.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

SIGN THE PETITION

Will you sign Big Issue's petition to ask Keir Starmer to pass a Poverty Zero law? It's time to hold government to account on poverty once and for all.

Recommended for you

View all
Starmer finally backs down on disability benefits cuts – but are the concessions enough?
Keir Starmer
Disability benefits

Starmer finally backs down on disability benefits cuts – but are the concessions enough?

More than half of PIP claimants say Labour's benefit cuts could make them homeless
Keir Starmer
Disability benefits

More than half of PIP claimants say Labour's benefit cuts could make them homeless

If Labour takes my PIP away, I'll have to give up the job I love
Photo of Hannah Moreton, who works for Sense
Disability benefits

If Labour takes my PIP away, I'll have to give up the job I love

'I am not a scrounger': Paralympic champions blast Labour over disability benefit cuts
Paralympians Sophie Christansen, David Smith and Ben Pritchard
Disability benefit cuts

'I am not a scrounger': Paralympic champions blast Labour over disability benefit cuts

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know

Support our vendors with a subscription

For each subscription to the magazine, we’ll provide a vendor with a reusable water bottle, making it easier for them to access cold water on hot days.