Basildon Foodbank provided 1853 emergency food parcels to local people in the year leading to March 2020. Of this number, 852 went to children.
The figures are a 24% increase on the previous financial year.
With the unprecedented impact of coronavirus Basildon Foodbank has experienced even greater levels of need as the pandemic continues to unfold. Basildon Foodbank believes the recent local increase is due to people struggling with low income, loss of work due to coronavirus and the temporary closure of local charities offering crisis support.
The food bank relies on the support of people across Basildon. It has asked anyone interested in supporting their work to either consider donating food or funds.
Pastor Victor Oladele, the Basildon Foodbank Manager, whose Church The Redeemed Christian Church of God Majesty Connections operates the Basildon Foodbank said:
“We’re dedicated to ensuring that people in Basildon without enough money for food are able to access emergency support. We’ve been making big changes to our work to ensure we can continue to offer people who can’t afford essentials the emergency help that is needed as safely as possible. But ultimately, no one in Basildon should need to use a food bank. 1853 emergency food parcels to local people is 1853 emergency food parcels too many. This isn’t right and cannot continue.
“Our vital work in the community has only been possible in the last few months because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds. To everyone that has donated – thank you.”
Basildon Foodbank is a member of the Trussell Trust’s network. The Trussell Trust, as part of a coalition of anti-poverty charities, is calling for the UK government to put a Coronavirus Emergency Income Support Scheme in place to ensure people can access the support they need to avoid them being swept into destitution.
Chief executive of the Trussell Trust Emma Revie says:
“This year has been extraordinarily difficult, with many more people across the country facing destitution as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Food banks carry on, working as tirelessly as ever, to support people in crisis through the unprecedented challenge the pandemic continues to pose. The statistics in our 2019/2020 report show the situation up until the end of March, before the true economic impact of the pandemic had hit. Despite this, we see a rise in food bank use yet again, with 18% more parcels being given to people in crisis in the UK in the year leading to March 2020 compared to the previous year.
“This constant rise in food bank use, year after year, cannot continue. More and more people are struggling to eat because they simply cannot afford food – and when we look to the year ahead, it’s likely even more people will be pushed into destitution. This is not right. We want to see governments at all levels doing everything in their power to protect people from financial hardship.”
ENDS
Contact:
Pastor Victor Oladele Basildon Foodbank Manager can be reached on [email protected] or 07424 660862
Notes to Editor
Basildon Foodbank:
- Basildon Foodbank has been providing three days emergency food and support to local people since August 2013.
- 1853 emergency food parcels were provided by Basildon Foodbank from April 2019 to March 2020
- For more info, visit basildon.foodbankorg.uk
- Basildon Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust network. For UK-wide Trussell Trust foodbank statistics visit https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/
About the Trussell Trust:
- We’re here to end the need for food banks in UK.
- We support a UK-wide network of more than 1,200 food bank centres, and together we provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, and campaign for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.
- Our most recent figures for the number of emergency food supplies provided by our network found there has been an 18% increase in emergency food parcels distributed from food banks throughout the UK from April 1 2019 to March 31, 2020, when compared to the previous year.
- More detail can be found here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/
- The Trussell Trust’s food bank network brings together volunteers, staff and supporters of all faiths and none to make a difference. Local churches play a vital part in this work, with around 12,000 churches actively involved in donating food, and providing venues, volunteers and financial support for food banks.
- You can read more about our work at trusselltrust.org