Foodbank use hits record levels in Yorkshire

More than 65,000 food packages were handed out at the Trussell Trust’s 25 foodbanks in Yorkshire over the last financial year - eight per cent more than in 2014/15 and more than double that of 2013/14, when 32,607 emergency supplies were given to people in crisis by the charity in Yorkshire.

More than third of the three-day food packages handed out in Yorkshire last year, 23,910, went to children.

Across the UK, the Trussell Trust handed out a record 1.1m packages at its 424 foodbanks - with increases at almost half of foodbanks due to the crippling affects of benefit sanctions and delays, low wages, high living costs and insecure work contracts.

Across the Leeds North, South, East and West foodbanks, 11,641 packages were given out - 5,020 of which were to children.

Trust chief executive David McAuley said the figures “prove that the numbers of people hitting a crisis” are still far too high.

“One million three-day food supplies given out by our food banks every year is one million too many,” he said. “Reducing UK hunger will require a collective effort from the voluntary sector, Government, businesses and the public, and the Trussell Trust is keen to work with all these groups to find solutions that stop so many people needing food banks in future.”

Last year YEP readers donated Christmas treats, toiletries and funds to help Trussell Trust foodbacks with our Feed a Family campaign.