New figures released by Basildon Foodbank reveal a 18,378 emergency food parcels were provided to people in the last year – 8,190 of these went to children.
Between April 2020 and March 2021, Basildon Foodbank has seen unprecedented numbers of people in need of support as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic hit people’s incomes and livelihoods.
The food bank believes the increase in local people needing its support is due to: increased redundancies; people’s finances being hit by the impact of coronavirus; people waiting weeks for a first Universal Credit payment; people not able to access support or receiving payments that don’t cover the cost of essentials, continued issues with benefit payments and insecure work.
Pastor Victor Oladele, the Basildon Foodbank Manager whose Church The Redeemed Christian Church of God Majesty Connections operates the Basildon Foodbank said:
“It simply isn’t right that more and more people in 2,042 are struggling to put food on the table and have been forced to our doors. The pandemic has impacted huge numbers of people and we know our figures are just the tip of the iceberg as new community organisations, independent food banks and local authorities, have sprung up during the pandemic to support our community.
“We’re always blown away by the amount of support and generosity local people show in supporting our work – and during this difficult year, our vital work has only been possible because of that incredible support. Thank you so much. While our help continues to be needed, we’re dedicated to ensuring that people without enough money for food are able to access emergency support.
“But ultimately, we don’t think it’s right that any of us are forced to turn to any charity for emergency food. That’s why we’re calling on our candidates standing in local elections in Basildon to commit to ending the need for our services in our community. Together we can build a Hunger Free Future.”
The food bank is part of the Trussell Trust’s network, which reports record levels of need in the last year, with more than 2.5 million emergency food parcels given to people struggling to afford essentials between April 2020 and March 2021; more than 980,000 of these parcels went to children.
Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said:
“No one should face the indignity of needing emergency food. Yet our network of food banks has given out record numbers of food parcels as more and more people struggle without enough money for the essentials. This is not right but we know we can build a better future. This pandemic has shown the unexpected can hit suddenly, but we know when we push for change, united by our desire for justice and compassion, the government has to listen and act.
“We are asking you, the public, to write to your local election candidates for a commitment to working to end the need for food banks. Together we can take action now to build a hunger free future.”
ENDS
Contact:
Pastor Victor Oladele, Foodbank Manager can be reached on [email protected] or 07424 660862
Notes to Editor
Basildon Foodbank has been providing emergency food and support to local people since 2013.
Number of emergency food parcels distributed by Basildon Foodbank and by food banks in the Trussell Trust’s UK wide network in 2020/21
| 1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021 | |||
| To adults | To children | Total | |
| UK | 1,557,116 | 980,082 | 2,537,198 |
| Basildon Foodbank | 10,188 | 8,190 | 18,378 |
For more info, visit www.basidon.foodbank.org.uk
Basildon Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust network. For UK-wide Trussell Trust food bank statistics visit https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/end-year-stats/