A Co Fermanagh mum has said “everyone should be able to put food on the table” as food bank use in Northern Ireland increases and the cost-of-living crisis escalates.
Over 61,500 food parcels were given out here from April 2021 to March 2022 - that's almost 170 parcels each day on average, according to new figures released by the Trussell Trust.
These parcels were distributed by 52 distribution centres operating in 10 local authorities across Northern Ireland.
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This represents a 36% increase compared to the same period in 2019/2020 before the pandemic hit and is the largest increase in support provided when compared to England, Scotland and Wales.
The charity says it’s witnessing an accelerating crisis across the region as the need for emergency food dramatically increased in the past six months.
This follows the £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit and the soaring rise in living costs that people are facing.
Alarmingly, more than 26,000 parcels were provided for children, a 39% increase from 2019/20 when almost 19,000 were provided.
Need for food banks in the Trussell Trust network in Northern Ireland has accelerated throughout the past six months: January to February 2022 saw a 57% increase in comparison to the same period in 2020.
As inflation continues to increase and rising bills are putting pressure on families across the region, the Trussell Trust says its network expects need for emergency food to rise further still, over the coming months and beyond.
Caroline Rice, 49, from Lisnaskea works as a classroom assistant and is also in receipt of Universal Credit.
The single mum to an 11-year-old daughter said: “I have always worked and still do. However, I am now facing a really tough period trying to juggle increased household bills, my growing child needing new clothes and the possibility of needing to access food bank support.
“Imagine not having £1 in your purse when your child’s tooth falls out, imagine sitting watching your child eat whilst your own stomach grumbles with hunger as you try to stretch your food bank parcel to last as long as possible.”
Caroline added: “It’s not easy walking into a food bank and saying you need help. That’s why we need the government to treat people with dignity, because everyone should be able to put food on the table.”
With the energy price cap rise just starting to bite, the charity says for most people at risk from financial hardship – who cannot work or work longer hours due to disability, caring responsibilities or mental health issues – there is very little protection ahead.
It says government at all levels must play its part - food bank staff and volunteers cannot and should not be picking up the pieces of government inaction, particularly with a crisis of this scale.
The charity also highlights that crucially, the newly elected Northern Ireland Assembly must urgently bring forward action.
It is calling on any new Assembly to tackle hunger and poverty in communities with a cash-first approach.
Longer term, the charity is calling for an ambitious anti-poverty strategy that ensures everyone can afford the essentials in Northern Ireland.
The charity is calling on all parties to commit to ending the need for emergency food and for parties to support actions to help make this happen as part of the current Assembly election campaign.
Jonny Currie, Trussell Trust network lead in Northern Ireland, said no one’s income should fall so dangerously low that they cannot afford to stay fed, warm and dry.
“There is still time for government at all levels to do the right thing, and ensure the incomes of people at the sharpest end of the crisis are enough to afford the essentials we all need in life.
“We are calling on the UK government to bring benefits in line with the true cost of living as a bare minimum, and longer term to strengthen our social security system so no one struggles to stay fed, warm and dry.
“ We are also calling for the newly elected Northern Ireland Assembly to urgently bring forward action and champion an ambitious anti-poverty strategy that ensures everyone can afford the essentials in Northern Ireland.”
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