The areas where food banks are most used as 3m parcels handed out across UK (2024)

A record number of food bank parcels were distributed across the UK last year, with more than three million packages delivered to people.

A report from The Trussell Trust found there were 3,121,404 parcels distributed by food banks in its network up to the end of March, including 1,144,096 packages for children.

The area with the highest number of food parcels was Sheffield with 86,220, which is six times more packages than five years ago. Other areas with the highest distribution of packages included Birmingham with 74,703, Newcastle upon Tyne with 66,935 and Camden in north London with 66,776.

Sue Rose, who helps run a food bank in St Swithun’s Church in Sheffield told i: “There’s always more food banks opening.

“We’re a small food bank and there’s 11 in our post code area alone. We have already fed over 3,000 people this year, its mainly people in debt or have money issues.

“Most people using our food bank are working, a lot of them are carers on zero-hour contracts, there’s no consistency for them – they simply can’t get enough hours to put food on the table. Some other people work in warehouses and there’s quite a lot of pensioners who after they’ve paid their bills can’t afford to eat.”

It comes as 4.3 million children are living in poverty, with the highest rates in the West Midlands, North West England and inner London, according to the Child Action Poverty Group. Meanwhile, The Trussell Trust said, parcels going to households that had someone of pension age living there were up by more than a quarter (27 per cent) to 179,000.

Ian Richardson, 56 who uses a food bank in Hackney, London told i he had to give up work in January because he had a heart attack and has since fallen into debt.

“I’m basically £300 short every month now – at the moment I’m getting £270 universal credit each month but that’s not even going to cover my rent. The benefits haven’t really started yet so I’m in rent arrears.

“My heart is permanently damaged; I’ll probably never work again. That’s because the ambulance took two hours to get to me and I live 500 metres from the nearest hospital – that’s because of the cuts.

“My family and friends are helping me out – but I’ve gone from having a decent wage to universal credit, and each month I’m taking on more debt. I don’t know how I’m going to cope".

Ahead of the next general election, The Trussell Trust have called on political parties to commit to tackling the cost of living crisis which has led to an increased number of people using food banks. The charity is advocating for a "supportive social security system" and better support for parents, carers and people with disabilities who have felt the pinch after increased living costs.

Emma Revie, its chief executive, said: "It's 2024 and we're facing historically high levels of food bank need. As a society, we cannot allow this to continue. We must not let food banks become the new norm.

"As we approach the next UK general election, we urgently need all political leaders to set out how they will build a future where no one needs a food bank to survive.

“Voters want to see a change and we need cross-government action at all levels to deliver it. We know what's pushing people to food banks, so we know what needs to change".

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) have echoed calls for protective measures for people facing poverty. More than 150,000 people have signed a petition to urge the government to implement a so-called “essentials guarantee” which would ensure universal credit is extended to encompass the cost of food, household bills and travel costs.

Iain Porter, JRF senior policy adviser, said: "This is not what an economy returning to full health looks like. The latest record-breaking emergency food parcel figures show the painful economic reality facing families with the least".

He said the issue is one that "no political party can ignore in this election year".

Despite the record number of food parcels being distributed across the UK, the Government insists its cost of living support package has prevented 1.3 million people falling into poverty in 2022-23 - reiterating that it was "raising the National Living Wage, cutting taxes and driving down inflation while investing billions through our Back to Work Plan".