Food Bank Usage Reaches Record Highs Across Waveney and the UK

New figures released by Trussell reveal that 2.9 million emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship across the UK between April 2024 and March 2025, with more than a million of these provided for children. This is equivalent to one parcel every 11 seconds and a 51% increase compared to five years ago. 

This national trend is mirrored in our local area, encompassing parts of South Norfolk and North Suffolk. We’ve witnessed a substantial rise in individuals requiring assistance, with client numbers jumping from 4,840 in 2019-2020 to 7,808 last year—an increase of 61%.

• Trussell’s new annual figures show that almost 3 million emergency food parcels were provided by food banks to people facing hunger in the past year – equivalent to one parcel every 11 seconds
• Families with children under five have seen a 32% rise over the past five years
• We believe this should be a ‘wake-up call’ for the UK government to strengthen the social security system and re-think cuts to disability payments that risk forcing more people to food banks

The annual figures also show significant numbers of parents struggling to afford the essentials. Since 2019/20 there has been a 46% rise in emergency food parcels provided to families with children, and a 32% rise in parcels to support children under the age of five.

Many food banks in our community are now reporting seeing severe levels of hunger and hardship that are ‘heartbreaking’, with some parents forced to ration their own food to ensure they can feed their children, as well as people in such desperate situations that they open food parcels to eat before leaving the food bank.

We recorded a slight dip (8%) in the total number of emergency food parcels compared to the record levels of the previous year. However,  we have clear evidence that this slight decrease does not necessarily indicate reduced need. Food banks across the UK continue to struggle to meet local need, and many report challenges with referrals due to other local services being stretched to breaking point.

Here at Waveney Foodbank we are actively working to reduce reliance on emergency food services. One way we’ve done this is by investing in a Financial Inclusion partnership with Citizens Advice East Suffolk. This initiative helps clients maximize their income, manage bills, and apply for eligible benefits. By integrating this support directly within our centres, our volunteers can offer immediate signposting assistance, helping individuals move towards financial stability and out of food insecurity.

But we recognise that offering support isn’t the only solution.

The escalating reliance on food banks serves as a critical indicator of systemic issues. It underscores the urgent need for the UK government to strengthen the social security system and reconsider cuts to disability support, which risk pushing more individuals into food poverty. This summer we’ll be taking part in Trussell’s lobbying day when we call on our MPs to help us end the need for foodbanks by making policy that guarantees the essentials to everyone in society.

If you agree that people shouldn’t need to rely on foodbanks to survive then please get in touch and we can help you tell your MP. 

We are also calling for a new, multi-year Financial Crisis and Resilience Fund. This would mean every local authority in England can provide crisis support to help people get back on their feet (preferably through a cash grant), alongside advice and other help to build financial resilience and make it less likely someone will need crisis support again.

We want to see long-term investment in joined-up health, skills and employment support and in building social homes, so more people have the financial security that comes with decent work and housing.

The two-child limit should be scrapped, something that would prevent hundreds of thousands of children from not having enough food or a warm home.

There must also be a boost to the basic rate of Universal Credit which is currently not enough to cover essential outgoings.

Emma Revie, chief executive of Trussell, said:

“Thousands of families with children, single households, disabled people, working people and older people from across the UK needed to access food banks for emergency food in the past year. A whole generation has now grown up in a country where sustained high levels of food bank need feel like the norm. This should be a massive wake-up call to government and a stark reminder of their responsibilities to the people of this country.

“This UK government will fail to deliver on its promise to improve living standards for us all unless it rows back on its harmful policy choices on disability benefits and housing support and shows greater ambition on areas like the upcoming child poverty strategy and future of local crisis support. Without action, they risk leaving a legacy of rising food bank need and child poverty.

“It is clear that the public’s cost of living fears are far from over, and these numbers show why. If the UK government truly wants to improve public services, boost the economy and make the UK a better place to live, then addressing hunger and hardship must be a priority.”

Food banks need everyone to play their part to move us towards ending the need for emergency food in the UK. The public can help make sure food banks can continue to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice in the year ahead by donating food or funds to Trussell or your local food bank to help end hunger in the UK.

Number of emergency food parcels distributed by food banks in the Trussell community: 1 April – 31 March 2019/20, 2023/24, and 2024/25.