The cost of living crisis is forcing people in the UK into impossible decisions

Food banks in the Trussell Trust network provided more than 2.1 million food parcels to people across the UK in the past year.

This is the first time food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network have provided more than 2 million parcels, outside of 2020/21, at the height of the pandemic.

Alarmingly, more than 830,000 parcels were provided for children, representing a 15% increase from 2019/20 when 720,000 were provided.

And this is set to get worse as the cost of living crisis continues. Food bank staff and volunteers will always do all they can to help people in their communities, but they cannot and should not be picking up the pieces of UK government inaction, particularly with a crisis of this scale.

Enough is enough.

We are working in partnership with food banks in our network to call on the UK government to take responsibility for the cost of living crisis and urgently increase benefits to keep pace with inflation, so that more people are able to afford the essentials we all need to eat, stay warm, dry and clean.

Read our latest stats showing food bank use in our network from April 2021-March 2022

Steph Maxwell from Uttlesford Food Bank is supporting our campaign with a petition:

“The cost of living is rising rapidly and increasing numbers of people are finding it impossible to cover their essential costs because their income is insufficient. A perfect storm is here and the future looks bleak with a further rise in fuel prices when the energy price cap rises again in October. People with money worries are turning to charity and being forced to take on debts. People need help now. The benefits system should reflect the true cost of living and ensure it keeps people from falling into hunger and poverty.”

Donate to help

Any amount you give will help support our network of food banks and help us campaign for change.

Sign our petition

We know that hunger isn’t about food, it’s about having enough money for the essentials we all need to survive. The UK government must act now.

No one should have to roll the dice on their lives

As the cost of living crisis worsens, people with the least are being hit the hardest. To understand what it is like to be caught between impossible decisions and be left with no option but to use a food bank, we invite you to roll the dice.

Roll the dice