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Almost three quarters of a million food parcels were provided for children last winter
Albert TothWednesday 03 December 2025 00:10 GMTComments
open image in galleryFood banks face another winter of record-breaking demand, leading provider Trussell has warned (Andy Buchanan/PA Wire)
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Food banks face another winter of record-breaking demand, leading provider Trussell has warned, as it estimates it will provide a food parcel every 10 seconds over the coming months.
Almost three quarters of a million (740,000) food parcels were provided for children last winter to people across the UK, new figures released by the charity reveal, up 40 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.
Of these, 266,000 were provided for children – one in every three parcels – a rise of 29 per cent in the same period.
But researchers found that the biggest increase was amongst those aged 65 and over. This group received 24,000 food parcels last winter – up 202 per cent compared to five years ago.
Trussell has warned that the rising cost of essentials means demand will only continue to rise this winter. With the price of expenses such as food, energy and rent continuing to rise against incomes, fewer and fewer households are finding themselves able to afford what they need.
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open image in galleryFood banks face another winter of record-breaking demand, leading provider Trussell has warned (Dan Prince/Trussell)Alicia Mehaffey is a single parent from Northern Ireland who works as a care assistant. Her income is topped up by Universal Credit but it isn’t enough to cover her bills.
"During the festive season, you want to do everything possible so that your family can have the best Christmas. But when you’re struggling to afford the essentials, being able to have a big dinner on Christmas Day feels like a pipe dream,” she said.
“I started using the food bank while I was pregnant with my baby girl. Becoming a parent brings so many added pressures like the cost of baby food, nappies, and toiletries. The food bank was an absolute lifesaver. Without it, I don’t know where I’d be.”
In September, Trussell found that 14 million adults are going without food because they cannot afford it. Meanwhile, energy arrears have more than doubled over the past five years, rising to £4.4bn by the end of June.
In the face of this pressure, over half (58 per cent) of Trussell’s food banks say that preparing for this winter feels harder than ever, as the level of need outpaces donations. Last winter – between December 2024 and February 2025 – these banks spent an estimated £3.5 million on food.
open image in galleryDebbie Abrahams said: ‘No one should have to rely on a food bank to get through the week’ (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) (PA Media)Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, chair of the work and pensions committee, said: “No one should have to rely on a food bank to get through the week.
“This data demonstrates that for too many families, poverty has become an everyday reality rather than an exception, with the Trussell Trust expecting to provide a food parcel every 10 seconds. If we’re serious about equality, we must be serious about tackling the pervasive inequalities that lead people to the brink in the first place.”
“Supporting our most vulnerable isn’t just a moral obligation, it’s a measure of who we are as a society. In my constituency, nearly two-fifths (38 per cent) of children under 16 in Oldham live in poverty, and so I welcome the Government abolishing the two-child limit.
“But we must continue this work and look to long-term preventative solutions that address the root causes of hardship, not just the symptoms, and ensure everyone has the dignity, stability, and opportunities they deserve.”
open image in galleryCarol Vorderman, presenter and Trussell supporter, said: ‘Christmas is the toughest time of year for people on the very lowest incomes, who are already struggling to make ends meet.’ (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)Carol Vorderman, presenter and Trussell supporter, said: “Christmas is the toughest time of year for people on the very lowest incomes, who are already struggling to make ends meet.
“When I was growing up in the 60s my Mum was a single parent and I grew up in North Wales in abject poverty, that hardship stays with you. This year too many people will spend the festive period worried sick, skipping meals so their children can eat and unsure how they will cope.”
Sophie Carre, director of engagement at Trussell, said: “Christmas should be a time of joy and celebration, but this winter too many people will be struggling just to get by. Tens of thousands of families will be forced to turn to a food bank for the first time as they are left exhausted, isolated and without enough money to live on.
“Food banks offer more than emergency food - they provide hope, dignity and relief to people facing hardship. They welcome people with warmth, offer connection over a cup of tea and give advice that makes it less likely people will need to turn to a food bank again.”
A government spokesperson said: “Food bank use is a blight on the country and although it went down last year we are determined to do more.
“To help with everyday costs we've increased the National Minimum Wage meaning an extra £1,500 a year for full-time workers, as well as taking £150 off energy bills from April and recommitting to the Triple Lock.
“Thanks to our decision to scrap the two-child limit and introduce a wider package of measures for families we will lift 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of this parliament.”
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