PRESS RELEASE: Trussell Trust Foodbanks in Bristol and South Gloucestershire provided 5,228 emergency food parcels to local people in April 2020
Trussell Trust Foodbanks in Bristol and South Gloucestershire provided 5,228 emergency food parcels to local people (the equivalent to over 47,000 meals) in April 2020. Of this number, 2,306 went to children.
This doesn’t include figures from the incredible work done by the independent foodbanks in Bristol.
The figures are a 258% increase on the same period last year, including a 300% rise in parcels given to children.
As the impact of coronavirus continues to unfold, the Trussell Trust Foodbanks in Bristol and South Gloucestershire believe the local increase is due to people struggling with low income, from benefits or loss of work due to coronavirus, continued issues with benefit payments, issues with Universal Credit such as the five-week wait, insecure work and lack/reduction in available local government support
The food bank relies on the support of people across Bristol and South Gloucestershire. It has asked anyone interested in supporting their work to either consider donating food or funds.
For more information on needs specific to foodbanks please email:
North Bristol Foodbank – info@northbristol.foodbank.org.uk
Bristol North West Foodbank – office@bristolnwfoodbank.org.uk
East Bristol Foodbank – ebfoodbank@inhope.uk
Matt Dobson, Foodbank Manager of North Bristol Foodbank said:
“We’re dedicated to ensuring that people in Bristol and South Gloucestershire who do not have enough money for food are able to access emergency support. We’ve been making big changes to our work to ensure we can continue to offer people who can’t afford essentials the emergency help that is needed as safely as possible. But ultimately, no one in Bristol and South Gloucestershire should need to use a food bank. 5,228 emergency food parcels to local people is 5,228 emergency food parcels too many. This isn’t right and cannot continue.
“Our vital work in the community has only been possible in the last few months because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds. To everyone that has donated - thank you.”
Bristol North West, East Bristol and North Bristol Foodbanks are all members of the Trussell Trust’s network. The Trussell Trust, as part of a coalition of anti-poverty charities, is calling for the UK government to put a Coronavirus Emergency Income Support Scheme in place to ensure people can access the support they need to avoid them being swept into destitution.
Chief executive of the Trussell Trust Emma Revie says:
“We have been seeing rises in food bank need across the UK for the past five years, but our latest national figures show that in April food banks in our network reported a soaring 89% increase in need - with the number of families coming to food banks doubling. This 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.”
Contact:
Matt Dobson [North Bristol Foodbank Manager] can be reached on info@northbristol.foodbank.org.uk or 0117 979 1399 or 07772 275 706
Emma Murray [Bristol North West Foodbank Manager] can be reached on office@bristolnwfoodbank.org.uk or 0117 923 5343
Andy Irwin [East Bristol Foodbank Manager] can be reached on ebfoodbank@inhope.uk or 07584 625 082
About the Trussell Trust:
We’re here to end the need for food banks in UK.
We support a UK-wide network of more than 1,200 food bank centres and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
Our most recent figures for the number of emergency food supplies provided by our network found there has been an 89% increase in emergency food parcels distributed from food banks, including a 107% rise in parcels given to children. There has been a 95% increase in the number of parcels going to families with children.
More detail can be found here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/
The Trussell Trust's food bank network brings together volunteers, staff and supporters of all faiths and none to make a difference. Local churches play a vital part in this work, with around 12,000 churches actively involved in donating food, and providing venues, volunteers and financial support for food banks.
You can read more about our work at trusselltrust.org