Increasing Numbers of Working Households Relying on Food Aid Amid Economic Strain
The UK’s food banks are facing an unprecedented surge in demand as the cost of living crisis intensifies, with many households—often featuring two working parents—turning to food aid for the first time. One such case is Sarah (not her real name), a 44-year-old mother of two from London, who has gone from being a regular donor to a food bank to relying on them herself. Despite working full-time and receiving universal credit, Sarah found it impossible to make ends meet.
“I’ve gone from being an average working-class citizen to somebody who’s in poverty,” Sarah shared, reflecting the harsh reality many are now facing.
Food aid workers, like Sabine Goodwin from the Independent Food Aid Network, are witnessing the shift firsthand. “It’s so distressing to see the numbers of people coming who have never been in this position before,” Goodwin said. “We’re seeing people who hadn’t even had to contemplate using a food bank, who might have been donating to one this time last year. And it’s happening in every part of the country.”
With more families struggling to put food on the table, food banks across the UK are bracing for further increases in demand as inflation, soaring energy prices, and other financial pressures continue to worsen.
