Use of Norwich Foodbank parcels skyrockets 34pc in last year

A total of 13,504 food parcels were handed out by Norwich Foodbank between April 2023 and March 2024, a 34pc rise since 2019 and a 19pc rise since 2022.

This increase in demand comes as the Trussell Trust revealed it handed out a record 3.1 million parcels nationwide last year, nearly double the number compared to five years ago. 

Hannah Worsley, project manager at Norwich Foodbank, based at Henderson Business Park in Earlham, said: "We are seeing a variety of people coming to us for help - individuals and family in work, on benefits and some with no income at all - and we're hearing of people's struggles every day. 

"One person who received our help had become homeless as a result of separating from their wife and their marital home was a council tenancy but in the client’s wife’s name only and therefore they had no rights to remain in the property at the end of the relationship."They had not been able to work since they became street homeless and were concerned they would lose their employment, but thankfully managed to find a home and return to work within two months."

And as the General Election quickly approaches, there are hopes foodbanks can be made a thing of the past under any future government.

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"We definitely want to see numbers drastically reduce, regardless of the election as we want the UK without the need for foodbanks and indeed any emergency food provision," Hannah added.

Norwich Foodbank handed out more than 13,500 emergency parcels in the last year (Image: Newsquest)

"Offering timely and accurate advice and support is vital, especially as so many services are overwhelmed with demand at the moment.

"We and the Trussell Trust share a vision to see an end to the need for foodbanks and we believe this can be achieved with a social security system that is fit for purpose and cross-government."

What can be done?

With the General Election less than a month away and debates already under way, few pledges have yet been laid out by any major political party to eradicate the need for foodbanks over the next five years.

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However, the Trussell Trust says use could be halved over the course of the next parliament if a new government commits to a series of measures around benefits, debt and social housing.

The organisation is calling for parties to commit in their manifestos to bring in a so-called "essentials guarantee" to ensure Universal Credit covers the cost of basics such as food, household bills and travel costs.

Among its 10 other asks are for debt deductions from social security payments to be made more affordable, a long-term strategy and funding for local crisis support, and new workers" rights legislation to make employment more secure.