14.1 million people face hunger across the UK, with growing numbers of working families turning to food banks, new Trussell research finds
|
More than 14.1 million people in the UK faced hunger in the past
year due to lack of money – a sharp rise from 11.6 million in 2022
– reveals Trussell's ‘Hunger in the UK' report, published
today Three in ten (30%) people referred to food banks in the
Trussell community are in working households – an increase since
2022 - showing paid employment no longer protects people from
hardship Alarmingly, more than one in four...Request free trial
Trussell's analysis reveals that across the UK in 2024, 14.1 million people, including 3.8 million children, faced hunger in the previous year due to a lack of money. That's the equivalent of one in six (16%) households and more than the combined populations of London, Manchester and Glasgow. It's a sharp increase from 2022, when Trussell estimated that 11.6 million people were facing hunger (representing 14% of households) and a worrying sign that growing numbers of people are facing deeper levels of hardship. Alarmingly, the survey, conducted by Ipsos, reveals that young children (aged 0-5) are most likely to be growing up in food insecure households compared to other children. More than one in four (27%) children are now growing up in a household facing hunger and children aged five and under are the hardest hit, with one in three (31%) living in a food insecure household. The charity's landmark report also reveals the growing reality that paid work is no longer enough to prevent people from needing a food bank. A survey conducted among people referred to food banks in the Trussell community found that three in ten (30%) people were part of a household where someone is in work – an increase since 2022 (24%). People in manual and service roles – such as bus drivers and care workers – are among the working people most likely to face hunger, despite having a job. Trussell finds that very low incomes are the main driver of growing hunger and food bank need in the UK. Overwhelmingly, this is caused by flaws in the design and delivery of the social security system, compounded by too many jobs being inaccessible, insecure and not paying enough to cover essential living costs. The survey of people referred to food banks revealed that families at food banks are left with just £104 a week after housing costs to cover all living expenses including food, utility bills, travel for work or school, and essential toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste. This is just 17% of what the average UK household has left after rent or mortgage payments, and lays bare the harsh reality faced by too many people who are struggling to make ends meet. Brian Cox, actor and Trussell supporter, said: “From my own experience, I know the harsh reality of growing up in poverty and the lasting impact it has. The constant worry of how to put food on the table is a feeling that never leaves you. No child should have to know what a food bank is, let alone need one. But shockingly, in the UK today, families with young children face the highest risk of hunger and needing to turn to a food bank to get by. “When 30% of people referred to food banks in the Trussell community are part of a household where someone is in work, it's clear that paid work isn't enough to protect people from hardship. The UK Government must scrap the two-child limit to ensure children have the best start in life. Because no child should be held back by hunger.” The research also shows over half (52%) of people in receipt of Universal Credit across the UK faced hunger in the previous year and almost a quarter (23%) were forced to access a food bank or other charitable food provision. Too often, social security isn't providing the protection people need when work doesn't pay – the majority (72%) of people in working households who have still needed to turn to food banks also receive Universal Credit to top up their income. One person who took part in the qualitative research said: “I can't really afford sanitary towels as well as shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes. It all gets on top of you with bills as well." Trussell finds that millions of people are facing hunger without reaching out to charitable food providers, revealing how hunger is becoming increasingly normalised in communities across the UK. The research shows that 61% of households who were going without food, did not access any form of charitable food support in the last year. Many (55%) didn't feel like they should because they did not feel they were facing financial hardship, a third (32%) that they did not think they were in enough need, and a quarter (23%) because they thought other people were in greater need than them. But when people's incomes are so low, the research shows that even a small change in household circumstance – such as a car breaking down, a bus route being cut or an unexpected bill – can be the tipping point that leaves them with no option but to turn to a food bank. This comes at a time when food banks are already under enormous pressure and many are struggling to meet extremely high levels of need, with nearly 3 million parcels provided by food banks in the Trussell community in the past year alone. One person taking part in the research said he was pushed into deeper hardship when his fridge-freezer broke down. With no way to store fresh food, and the unexpected repair costs, he was forced to access support from a food bank. He said: "I've always looked after myself, and I've always helped my family, so it's... hard for me to admit that I'm needing help." Trussell says this report should serve as a stark warning for the UK Government to take urgent and meaningful action to meet its manifesto commitment to end the need for emergency food. This includes scrapping the two-child limit to ensure all children have the best start in life and providing better support to private renters on low incomes to keep up with the real cost of rents by uprating Local Housing Allowance in line with current rent levels. These actions would be positive steps towards reducing the need for food banks and lifting more people out of severe hardship. Annie, a mum from the south-west of England, said: “As a single mum with a job in retail, I work all the hours I can to provide for my daughter. But my income is so low that it needs to be topped up by Universal Credit - and even then, it's still not enough to cover the rising cost of living. By the end of the month, all the money has run out, and I often skip meals to make sure my daughter can eat. There are times when we've had no choice but to go to the food bank. I am grateful the food bank is there to support me – but it shouldn't have to be this way. Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at Trussell, said: “Hunger and hardship are increasingly seen as a normal part of everyday life in the UK. This is not an inevitable trend, but the result of systems that urgently need updating - particularly our social security system. “It isn't right that millions of people from all walks of life - including pensioners, disabled people, working families, and carers - are struggling to make ends meet. Nobody in the UK should face hunger. The UK government rightly committed to end the need for food banks and ensure every child has the best possible start in life; this research is the benchmark against which they will be judged.
"Parents are telling us they are losing sleep, worrying about how they will pay for new shoes, school trips, keep the lights on, or afford the bus fare to work. We have already created a generation of children who've never known life without food banks. That must change. We have seen small steps of progress. We now need the UK government to match urgency with ambition to turn the tide of hunger and hardship, for good.” ENDS Notes to editors: Hunger in the UK research is based on the following research. On behalf of Trussell, Ipsos carried out the following three research activities. Ipsos was responsible for the design of the questionnaire/discussion guides, fieldwork and the provision of data to Trussell. Trussell was responsible for the analysis of the data, extrapolations, interpretation and reporting of the findings.
|