Posts in 'News'

The Trussell Trust has published new research that reveals the true and devastating consequences of the inadequacy of Universal Credit, with millions of families across the country struggling to make ends meet – including working households and disabled people. (more…)

• New annual figures from the Trussell Trust show that almost 3 million (2,986,203) food parcels were given out – more than ever before
• Alarmingly more than a million of the parcels were provided for children
• The number of parcels provided between April 2022 – March 2023 is more than double the amount distributed by food banks in the same period five years ago
• The charity is calling for a stronger social security system that ensures we can at least cover life’s essentials, like food, heating, and clothes

New figures released today by the Trussell Trust reveal that almost 3 million (2,986,203) emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship between April 2022 and March 2023, with more than a million of these parcels provided for children. (more…)

• Charities the Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) surprise commuters with billboard installation as they call on UK government to ensure Universal Credit at least covers the cost of life’s essentials
• Actor Charlotte Ritchie and singer-songwriter Joy Crookes join volunteers at installation to campaign for a future where everyone can afford life’s essentials

TODAY anti-poverty charities the Trussell Trust and JRF transformed a billboard close to Finsbury Park tube into a “till-board” with a 48-sheet receipt roll. The giant receipt lists the typical essential costs we all incur each week and highlights that these outgoings are always more than the basic rate of Universal Credit, forcing many people who need the support of the social security system to go without the essentials we all need to get by. (more…)

Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, said:

“This winter has been incredibly challenging for people on the lowest incomes, and for many it has deepened the hardship they have already been facing for some time. The Trussell Trust welcomes some of the significant interventions announced by the Chancellor today that will provide some additional support to people on the lowest incomes. (more…)

Anti-poverty charity the Trussell Trust, who oversee a network of more than 1,300 food banks, has appointed Helen Barnard as their new Director of Policy, Research and Impact.

Helen, who was previously Associate Director at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Research and Policy Director at Pro Bono Economics, will join the Trussell Trust on 20th March. (more…)

Today we launched a new campaign, Guarantee our Essentials, in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), calling on the UK government to enshrine in law the amount people need to ensure the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers the essentials.

Universal Credit should offer support to anyone in need of help. But there’s now a significant gap between living costs and the income Universal Credit provides, according to both our and JRF’s calculations. Rates are also not based on what people need and how much essentials such as food, household bills and travel costs, which is driving increasing levels of hardship and pushing people to food banks, with 90% of low-income households on Universal Credit going without. (more…)

Social media stars and charity campaigners LadBaby (aka Mark and Roxanne Hoyle) are releasing a reworked version of Bank Aid classic, Do They Know It’s Christmas with 50% of profits being donated to the Trussell Trust and 50% to the Band Aid Trust.

Food Aid will be released on 16th December, and will also feature financial expert Martin Lewis. LadBaby are the first act to be allowed to rework the iconic Christmas track. (more…)

Comedian Jason Manford has released a charity single to raise funds and awareness for our Emergency Fund Appeal, which is helping food banks keep going this winter.

The single, Assembly Bangers, has been performed as the finale during Jason’s recent sold-out UK tour, and is a dance track featuring songs sung in school assemblies for decades. It includes This Little Light of Mine, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, When I Needed a Neighbour, Lord of the Dance, and Sing Hosanna. (more…)

• New figures from the Trussell Trust show more emergency food parcels were given out during the April to September period than ever before
• Over the last six months, 320,000 people have been forced to turn to food bank in the Trussell Trust network for first time
• New research finds one in five people referred to food bank in the Trussell Trust network are in working households
• The charity is urging the UK government to take immediate action as food banks face ‘breaking point’
• Volunteers set for busiest winter yet as levels of need outstrip donations 

New figures released today by the Trussell Trust reveal that 1.3m emergency food parcels were provided to people between April and September this year by food banks in the charity’s UK network and almost half a million of these went to children. (more…)

• One in five (21%) people were unable to cook hot food this summer as they couldn’t afford to use the cooker, while almost a quarter (23%) have been unable to travel to work or essential appointments because they couldn’t afford the cost of public transport or fuel, the charity says
• The research finds almost two-thirds (64%) of Universal Credit claimants had to spend July’s first Cost of Living payment from government on food
• This starkly shows the support package has not been enough to protect people from harm or tackle soaring bills, the charity warns, as it calls on new Prime Minister to urgently provide more support

The Trussell Trust has published new research highlighting the devastating impact the cost of living crisis is having on people forced to survive on the lowest incomes. (more…)