Foodbank usage in Halton has doubled in past three years

The number of parcels handed out in the last year was almost double the number from three years ago.

Figures from the Trussell Trust show that, in the year running from March last year to this year, 10,207 food parcels were handed out in Halton, and of these, 3,831 were given to children.

Three years ago, in the year ending March 2021, 5,656 food parcels were given out in total.

Figures: Trussell Trust (Image: Newsquest)

The Trussell Trust says the rise is a product of problems with the UK's welfare system – not just the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

The charity, the country's leading operator of food banks, distributes millions of food parcels to those in need every year – and the number has risen again this year.

Across the UK, a total of 2,986,203 emergency food parcels were given out between April 2022 and March this year – up 37 per cent on the year before.

These figures cover parcels handed out by the Trussell Trust itself, but they do not include emergency food supplies provided by other charities and organisations.

The figures form part of a wider national picture, in which foodbank usage across the country has increased massively.

Emma Revie, chief executive at the Trussell Trust, called the statistics 'extremely concerning'.

She said: "The continued increase in parcel numbers over the last five years indicates that it is ongoing low levels of income and a social security system that is not fit for purpose that are forcing more people to need food banks, rather than just the recent cost of living crisis or the Covid-19 pandemic."

“Food banks were set up to provide short-term support to people in an emergency, they are not a lasting solution to hunger and poverty, and more than three quarters of the UK population agree with us that they should not need to exist," she added.

Across the north west, 347,976 parcels were handed out in the year to March – up 37 per cent from 253,084 the year before.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We are committed to eradicating poverty and we recognise the pressures of the rising cost of living.

"This is why we have uprated benefits by 10.1 per cent as well as making an unprecedented increase to the National Living Wage this month.

“This is on top of changes already made to Universal Credit which mean claimants can keep more of their hard-earned money – a boost worth £1,000 a year on average."

“We are also providing record levels of direct financial support for the most vulnerable,” they added.