More than 10,000 people in and around Lambeth received a food bank parcel between April and September this year. Nearly 4,000 went to children.
Lambeth Foodbanks today (30 November) said that their new figures do not include the number of people helped by other community food organisations, independent food banks or the local authority, which have all been working during the pandemic in different ways to help people in the area.
The local food bank is part of the Trussell Trust network which, on average, provided more than 5,100 emergency food parcels to people across the UK every day in the six months to September this year. Almost 2,000 of these were provided for children.
This is an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2019. Over the last five years there has been a 74% increase.
Exact figures for Lambeth are 10,565 people receiving an emergency food parcel between April and September 2021, with 3,826 of these going to children.
The food bank warned today that families already at breaking point face an even tougher winter after £20 a week was cut from Universal Credit payments last month. This is on-top of rising fuel costs this winter and soaring inflation.
Norwood and Brixton Foodbank media manager Jon Taylor said: “It’s not right that people in our community are needing a charity’s help to put food on the table.
“Everyone in South London should be able to afford the essentials.
“We know our figures are just the tip of the iceberg as different community organisations, independent food banks and local authorities have also been working during the pandemic to support our community.
“We’re always blown away by the amount of support and generosity local people show in supporting our work – our vital work has only been possible because of that incredible support.
“Thank you so much.”
“While our help continues to be needed, we’re dedicated to ensuring that people without enough money for food are able to access emergency support, because we don’t think it’s right that any of us are forced to turn to any charity for emergency food.
“That’s why we’re proud to be working alongside other food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network to push for the long-term changes we need to reach a future where everyone has enough money for the essentials.”
December is often the food bank’s busiest month, so the charity is asking local people who are considering supporting their work to visit their website to make a financial donation or to find out how to donate food.”
Foodbanks in Lambeth have been working closely together since the start of the pandemic. Ones involved in the partnership include The Norwood and Brixton Foodbank, Clapham Park Foodbank, Vauxhall Foodbank and Waterloo Foodbank.
Visit the Norwood and Brixton foodbank website
