Demand at Enfield’s biggest food bank almost three times higher than six years ago

North Enfield Foodbank issued almost 18,000 food parcels in the past year, up from just over 6,000 in 2017/18

The number of parcels issued by Enfield’s biggest food bank to residents struggling with the cost of living has almost tripled in just six years, latest figures show.

North Enfield Foodbank, one of 1,699 distribution centers run by the UK charity Trussell Trust, gave away 17,952 food parcels in 2023/24, compared to 6,291 in 2017/18.

This represents an increase of 185% in six years.

The Trussell Trust network distributed more than 3.1 million emergency food parcels in the UK last year – representing a 130% increase in demand over the same six-year period.

To be eligible to receive a parcel from one of the trust’s food banks, residents must receive a referral from a registered professional such as a GP or social worker.

Of the 17,952 parcels delivered by the North Enfield Foodbank last year, 7,369 were given to children.

The only year it saw a higher demand was in the first year of the pandemic, when it distributed 21,238 food parcels.

Commenting on the charity’s UK-wide figures, Beatrice Orchard from the Trussell Trust said: “These statistics help shine a spotlight on the extent of the difficulties facing communities across the UK.

“As we approach the general election, we must also use it to draw attention to the solutions that can finally reverse this horrifying trend of ever-increasing need for food banks.”

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