UK Foodbanks
13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK. Our foodbank is part of a UK-wide foodbank network run by The Trussell Trust.
The Trussell Trust partners with churches and communities to open new foodbanks right across the UK. With 100 foodbanks currently launched, the Trust's goal is for every town to have one.
What do foodbanks do?
Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Trussell Trust foodbanks provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK. Last year the Trust's UK foodbank network fed over 60,000 people.
All food is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers. Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social workers identify people in crisis and issue a food voucher. Clients receive three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food in exchange for their food voucher. Foodbanks also make time to chat and to signpost clients to other helpful services.
Foodbanks help prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems. A simple box of food makes a big difference.
Why do people need emergency food?
Hunger is not just a third world problem. Today people across the UK will struggle to feed themselves and their families. Redundancy, illness, benefit delay, domestic violence, debt, family breakdown and paying for heating during winter are just some of the reasons why people go hungry. Read client stories
