Trussell Trust Update: End of Year Stats

More than 3.1 million emergency food parcels were distributed by food banks in the Trussell Trust network in the past 12 months — the most parcels ever distributed by the network in a year and nearly double the number compared to five years ago.

Every year we release statistics about the number of emergency food parcels food banks in our network have provided to people. We release figures for the first six months of the financial year in November, and for the full financial year at the end of April or early May.

These figures cover 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

More than 3.1 million emergency food parcels were distributed by food banks in the Trussell Trust network in the past 12 months — the most parcels ever distributed by the network in a year and nearly double the number compared to five years ago.

Between April 2023 and March 2024, the number of people that used a food bank for the first time was 655,000. Food banks in the Trussell Trust network saw the highest ever levels of need as more people found their incomes did not cover the cost of essentials like heating and food.

This year’s figures represent a shocking 94% increase in the total number of parcels distributed compared to five years ago.

Two thirds (65%) of all support was for families with children

• Overall, over 1.1 million emergency food parcels were distributed for children by food banks in the Trussell Trust network, that’s a shocking record.

• Half a million families were supported by food banks in the Trussell Trust network in the last year. These included 453,000 children and 745,000 adults.

• There has been a 57% increase in the number of families supported, and a 69% increase in the number of children supported by food banks compared to five years ago.

• Although families with children and working-age adults are still overrepresented at food banks, this year we have seen a concerning increase in parcels going to pension age households. 179,000 parcels were provided for households with someone aged 65+, a 27% increase compared to last year, significantly higher than the average 4% increase.

Most of the nations and regions of the UK have seen increases in the number of parcels provided since the previous year and all are significantly higher than the levels distributed five years ago in 2018/19.

• The biggest increases both in the most recent year and over the last five years have been in London, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire and the Humber.
• Other regions in England, along with Wales, have seen smaller increases or very small decreases compared to last year, however all still face alarmingly high levels of need, with big increases compared to 5 years ago.
• Scotland stands out as having seen a very slight decrease in the most recent year and a much lower increase over the last 5 years than any other part of the UK, although the number of parcels is still a fifth (21%) higher than was the case 5 years ago.

For a detailed breakdown of what this year’s statistics are telling us at a UK level and the findings for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Download our fact sheets on the Trussell Trust website

Despite the ongoing upward trends, our work is making a difference and our push for an Essentials Guarantee is getting support.

We know that introducing an Essentials Guarantee into Universal Credit would help to ensure everyone has a protected minimum amount of support to afford the essentials. And the public are clear that tackling this should be a priority. 79% agree that poverty in the UK is a big problem and 74% believe it is the government’s responsibility to change this.

This is an issue the next government cannot ignore and that is why, ahead of the UK general election, we’re setting out our manifesto to end the need for food banks.

We cannot allow these rising levels of need to continue, and we know what needs to change to help people who can’t afford the essentials.

Trussell Trust

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