Trussell respond to Budget

Helen Barnard, director of policy at Trussell, said: “We welcome the Chancellor's action today to take the first steps towards tackling the appalling levels of hardship we see in communities across the country.  Her decision to ease the burden of debt repayments for people receiving Universal Credit is a much-needed step towards better protection from hunger and hardship in our social security system. We are also very encouraged to see the confirmation of a full years' funding for the Household Support Fund to help deliver crisis support locally, a vital lifeline to people facing immediate hardship.

“However, today's announcements still fall short of the action required to truly protect people from being forced to turn to food banks to survive. We now need the UK government to move swiftly to build on these first steps to fulfil its manifesto commitments and end the need for emergency food,  which will ease pressure on public services. Achieving this requires both reform and investment in social security. There is no time to lose in turning the tide on hunger in the UK – the government must set out a clear plan to end the need for emergency food and ensure that we do not see even more people facing hunger on its watch.”