Bristol and South Gloucestershire Foodbanks Distribute Over 38,700 Emergency Food Parcels in the Past 12 Months, Including 14,400 for Children
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, North Bristol and South Gloucestershire Foodbank released new figures showing that over 38,700 emergency food parcels were distributed between April 2024 and March 2025. This included 14,400 parcels specifically provided for children, a concerning statistic that highlights the ongoing issue of food insecurity in the region.
These figures come as Trussell, an anti-poverty charity, released its annual report showing that 2,885,086 food parcels were given out across the UK in the same time frame. This has prompted calls for the UK government to take action and strengthen the social security system, as well as re-evaluate cuts to welfare that could potentially increase the need for food banks.
Despite a 4% decrease in the number of emergency food parcels distributed by the three Trussell food banks operating in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, the area has seen consistently high levels of food bank usage over the last five years. In fact, there has been a 62% increase in food bank need compared to the same period in 2019-2020.
Ellen Wood, Manager of North Bristol and South Gloucestershire Foodbank, commented on the figures saying, “We’ve seen a slight dip in food parcels this year, which shows our collective efforts are making a difference. But many people across Bristol and South Glos still face hunger.” She went on to explain that behind these numbers are real people, such as parents skipping meals so their children can eat, elderly people living in cold homes, and working families struggling to make ends meet.
Wood also mentioned that the food bank is actively working towards providing access to advice and services that will help individuals and families move away from needing emergency food. However, she expressed concern about upcoming changes to disabled benefits that could potentially increase the pressure on food banks and reverse the progress made.
As part of the Trussell community of food banks, NBSG Foodbank believes that everyone should have enough money to put food on the table. They are urging the community to play their part in helping end the need for emergency food in the UK. In the meantime, individuals can support NBSG Foodbank by donating food or funds at nbsg.foodbank.org.uk.
Emma Revie, chief executive of Trussell, also commented on the figures saying, “Far too many children, families, disabled people, working people, and elderly people from across Bristol and South Glos needed to access food banks for emergency food in the past year. This should be a wake-up call to the government and a stark reminder of their responsibilities to the people of Bristol and South Glos.” She emphasized the urgency of the situation and urged those who can to play their part in changing it.
To find out how you can help, visit nbsg.foodbank.org.uk. Additionally, the Trussell website has a feature that allows individuals to see how many emergency food parcels were provided in their local area by entering their postcode. Visit nbsg.foodbank.org.uk/postcode to access this information.
This article was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.