Demand for foodbanks doubles in one year

Church-run foodbanks have fed twice as many people in the last 12 months as in the previous year.

More than 128,000 people turned to foodbanks for emergency food hand outs during the 2011 to 2012 financial period - a 100% increase on 2010 to 2011 which served 61,000 people.

The foodbanks are run by Christian charity The Trussell Trust, which has opened 100 new foodbanks in the last year to cope with demand.

There are now 201 foodbanks operating through local churches nationwide.

The Trussell Trust said the people using its services include families who are in work. Over 45,000 children were fed by foodbanks during 2011 and 2012.

It blames the rising cost of food and fuel combined with static incomes, high unemployment and changes to benefits.

All those who received emergency food were referred by frontline care professionals such as doctors, social workers and Citizens Advice Bureau.

Research into its clients has found benefit delay to be the single biggest reason behind referral to foodbanks - with 29 per cent citing this as the reason.

This was followed by low income - 19 per cent.

Other reasons for referrals include delayed wages, domestic violence, sickness, unemployment, debt, benefit changes, refused crisis loans, homelessness and absence of free school meals during school holidays.

Trussell Trust Executive Chairman Chris Mould said: "Foodbanks are seeing people from all walks of life turning to us for help when they hit crisis.

"The current economic situation means that times are tough for many. Every day we meet parents who are skipping meals to feed their children or even considering stealing to stop their children going to bed hungry.

"It is shocking that there is such a great need for foodbanks in 21st century Britain, but the need is growing."

He is expecting more people to turn to foodbanks as the Government’s Budget begins to take effect.

"We are urging more churches and communities to support and start foodbanks. Our vision is to see a foodbank in every town in the UK, creating a nation where no-one needs to go hungry."

All food distributed by the foodbanks is donated by members of the public.

The Trussell Trust anticipates that numbers fed by foodbanks could exceed 500,000 in financial year 2015 to 16.