There was a 170 per cent increase in the number of people turning to emergency food banks in 2012-13, according to food bank charity the Trussell Trust. It says almost 350,000 people received at least three days' emergency food during the 12 months to 31 March – nearly 100,000 more than anticipated and close to triple the number helped in the preceding year. Of those helped, 126,889 (nearly 37 per cent) were children.

The charity says the new figures must act as a 'wake up call'. It says the rising cost of living, static incomes, changes to benefits, underemployment and unemployment have meant increasing numbers of people have hit a crisis that forces them to go hungry. And it warns that the coalition government's new 'welfare reform' measures could see numbers increase further in 2013-14.

The Trussell Trust is the largest food bank provider in the UK. It says it is launching three new banks every week to help meet demand.

Source: Press release 24 April 2013, Trussell Trust
Links: Trussell Trust press release | Oxfam press release | Guardian report | New Statesman report