Close to nine out of 10 food banks, 89%, surveyed by FareShare are worried they cannot meet the extra demand for food parcels this winter.
In a survey of the community groups and food banks the charity supplies food to, almost 80% of respondents said they had experienced a higher demand for services. Around three in 10 said demand had more than doubled.
Some 82% cited the rising cost of food as a reason for the increase in demand, while 71% blamed rising fuel bills and 47% low pay.
FareShare reports that 96% of the charity respondents have been affected by the cost-of-living crisis since January, with 41% stating they were severely affected.
The organisation contacted the 9,402 food banks and community groups that receive food aid from the charity, and received 1,376 responses to its survey.
Charities warn it will get even worse
Nearly three-quarters (73%) of charities said they were seeing people accessing support for the first time. Charities said they expect even further increases in people using their services (71%).
The founder of weekly pop-up café Charlie’s Angels Kitchens, Charlie Moore, said: “I have seen a lot more people coming along over the past six months, and a lot of them are getting food from us for the first time. I'm starting to see so many more young people coming in who just can’t make ends meet. They’re all working, whether it’s young parents getting food for their family, or a 20-year-old doing in-work training, struggling to afford basic necessities with their last £10 in their bank account. They’re all really concerned about the cost-of-living crisis, and are relying more on more on the food we get from FareShare.”
Some 64% of charities surveyed said they need more funding to keep up with the ever-increasing demand.
FareShare supporters to match fund new appeal
In response to their findings, FareShare has launched a cost-of-living appeal which two longstanding supporters, Mike and Helen Brown, will be match funding to the first £250,000.
FareShare is asking for donors to give £7.50 a month to give someone a dinner a day.
Lindsay Boswell, FareShare’s chief executive, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is driving millions into food insecurity, at a time when food prices are rising, and demand for our surplus food has skyrocketed. What we are hearing from the charities we support is that this situation will only worsen and they are worried they may not be able to meet the extra demand. By donating to FareShare’s Cost of Living Crisis Appeal, you can help get more good-to-eat surplus food that may otherwise go to waste to people facing economic hardship across the UK.”
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