Last year, food banks in Northern Ireland increased their provision by 200%. They delivered more than 77,000 food parcels to people and families fighting hunger. This rather shocking figure paints a picture of a mounting crisis particularly among family households with children. Deirdre, a mother of two, calls food banks her “lifeline.” They have been critical to her family’s survival through difficult times.
At the same time, the need for emergency food support is surging. Compared to 2019/20, the number of families with kids who need help has grown an incredible 68%. Moreover, there has been a 47 percent increase in parcels targeted to serve children under five years old. These numbers underscore a critical need for regional systemic change in tackling food insecurity in the region.
Deirdre expressed her concerns about the growing reality that more and more families will be relying on food banks and food pantries. She said that she is “definitely not surprised” by the numbers. She urged federal policymakers to do more than just provide temporary relief and go to the root causes fueling this crisis.
“All these decisions that people are making about cuts… are being made by people who have not experienced what we have experienced,” – Deirdre
The Trussell Trust, the UK’s key anti-hunger charity, which supports food banks, has an equally stark message. They recommend that the government and policymakers at all levels heed these numbers as a “wake-up call.” Fiona Cole, the policy manager in Northern Ireland at the Trussell Trust, has made a concerning observation. It is a drastic change to have a whole generation grow up in a society where relying on food banks every day is just expected and normal.
Over the past months, food banks have expressed that clients are experiencing some of the highest levels of crisis ever. Ken Scott, manager of Bangor Foodbank and Community Support, stated that it is not right for anyone to be forced to turn to charity for emergency food.
“It’s not right that anyone should be forced to turn to charity for emergency food,” – Ken Scott
Deirdre talked about her own experience with food banks. She thanked them, saying she didn’t know how she would have fed her children without their help. She underscored that many people do not recognize that “the working poor are still in need of food banks.”
“I don’t know how my children would have been fed,” – Deirdre
The Trussell Trust said it had never seen a greater need for food parcels than today. These days, they’re handing out one new parcel about every seven minutes. This statistic piles on the doom and gloom, reiterating how dire the circumstances are and the pressing need to take action now.
Deirdre went on to make the important case that all of the challenges impacting families today are not the result of mismanagement of money.
“Not because we mismanage money. It’s not because we can’t budget. It’s because there isn’t enough to budget,” – Deirdre
She pointed out that many families do not plan to end up in such desperate situations.
“Nobody knows the situation they’re ever going to face,” – Deirdre
As our ACE data shows, parents across the country are facing stark choices when it comes to the basics. The charity calls for the Westminster government to adopt more positive policies. They go on to argue that people’s living standards will only improve when damaging decisions on disability benefits and housing support are reversed.
