Food banks distribute 63,180 meals a DAY as cost of living crisis hits families

The nation's largest charity food bank says 11.5 million meals were distributed over six months, or more than 63,000 a day on average, as fall budget cuts loom
More than 4.3 million meals went to children (
Image: Veselina Alexandrova/Getty Images)

Britain's largest network of food banks distributed more than 11.5 million meals in just six months as starving families battled the cost of living crisis.

The Trussell Trust distributed 1,281,148 emergency parcels between April and the end of September, according to today's figures.

Each contained enough food for three meals a day for three days, meaning 11,530,332 meals were provided.

The figure is up 32% from the same period last year and 52% from April to September 2019 - before the coronavirus pandemic.

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said last night: "These new statistics show that even in the summer months people are struggling to afford the essentials - and we expect that may this be the toughest winter yet for food banks and the people they support. ."

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Emma Revie, Chief Executive of Trussell Trust (
Picture:
Humphrey Nemar / Daily Mirror)
A breakdown showed that 483,677 food aid parcels, equivalent to 4,353,093 meals, were distributed to children.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: 'This is a staggering increase in the number of people turning to food banks and it is frankly shameful that so many food parcels now needed to feed starving children."

The charity said that over the past six months, 320,000 people have turned to food banks in its network for the first time.

The grim revelations come a week before Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to deliver his autumn statement, which is expected to confirm spending cuts and tax hikes.

He is under increasing pressure to ensure that benefits and pensions will rise in line with inflation - currently at 10.1%.

Politics Nov 10, 2022 0 41 Add to Reading List

Food banks distribute 63,180 meals a DAY as cost of living crisis hits families

The nation's largest charity food bank says 11.5 million meals were distributed over six months, or more than 63,000 a day on average, as fall budget cuts loom

More than 4.3 million meals went to children (

Image: Veselina Alexandrova/Getty Images)

Britain's largest network of food banks distributed more than 11.5 million meals in just six months as starving families battled the cost of living crisis.

The Trussell Trust distributed 1,281,148 emergency parcels between April and the end of September, according to today's figures.

Each contained enough food for three meals a day for three days, meaning 11,530,332 meals were provided.

The figure is up 32% from the same period last year and 52% from April to September 2019 - before the coronavirus pandemic.

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said last night: "These new statistics show that even in the summer months people are struggling to afford the essentials - and we expect that may this be the toughest winter yet for food banks and the people they support. ."

Receive a daily morning political briefing straight to your inbox.Sign up for the free Mirror Politics newsletter

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of Trussell Trust (

Picture:

Humphrey Nemar / Daily Mirror)

A breakdown showed that 483,677 food aid parcels, equivalent to 4,353,093 meals, were distributed to children.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: 'This is a staggering increase in the number of people turning to food banks and it is frankly shameful that so many food parcels now needed to feed starving children."

The charity said that over the past six months, 320,000 people have turned to food banks in its network for the first time.

The grim revelations come a week before Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to deliver his autumn statement, which is expected to confirm spending cuts and tax hikes.

He is under increasing pressure to ensure that benefits and pensions will rise in line with inflation - currently at 10.1%.