The Trussell Trust and Bank of America have entered a partnership as food banks in the charity’s network experience the biggest ever increase in need. Food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network saw a 47% increase in need during the first six months of the pandemic, with 1.2m emergency food parcels provided to people in crisis between April and September 2020. There has been a huge surge in emergency food going to children, with 2,600 food parcels going to children every day.
Bank of America’s support will be directed towards a new programme we call ‘Changing Communities’ – which aims to bolster the capacity of our food bank network to both meet current need and create long term change–– including:
Helping people access emergency food
Supporting the Trussell Trust’s central Operations team to provide daily support to the food banks including governance, logistics, food supply, training and strategic planning.
Practical help to lift people out of poverty
Support to provide grants to local food banks to increase provision of financial resilience, income advice and welfare support as a practical solution to help lift people out of poverty.
Support to develop the infrastructure of a newly established Helpline, which helps people in crisis access to emergency food and financial advice to increase their income, even if they can’t leave their home.
Bank of America is keen to support the Trussell Trust’s long-term vision of a UK without the need for food banks and is working alongside them to campaign for a hunger free future.
Emma Revie, chief executive at the Trussell Trust said,
“Everyone should be able to afford their own food, but right now more people than ever are likely to need a food bank’s help. This partnership will help us support food banks to provide emergency food and practical support to people in crisis, while also working towards our long-term vision of a hunger free future. We’re so grateful to Bank of America for standing alongside us.”