Food banks warn they are struggling to meet demand

Money Box

BBC

Business

4.2 • 825 Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2022

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Food banks across the UK have told Money Box they are facing increased demand, but falling donations, as the cost of living crisis bites people across the income range. This research, which took place in June, covered 116 out of 505 organisations which are part of IFAN - the Independent Food Aid Network. Those 116 organisations cover 203 food banks across the UK and 9 out of 10 of them told us they had seen an increase in demand since the start of this year. More than half said they've also seen seen food donations fall. IFAN, a registered charity and anti-poverty campaign group, helps run food banks which tend to be run by volunteers across local communities. For context, we don't know how many food banks there are in the UK, but the Trussell Trust, which has its own network of more than 1,400 of them, recently reported giving out more than 2.1 million food parcels in the year to March.

We reported on Money Box a couple of weeks ago that energy prices are expected to rise substantially in October and then again in January. But why does the price get fixed by the regulator Ofgem? Would a change in the way the market works bring bills down? We'll hear from Dr Craig Lowrey, Senior Consultant at Cornwall Insight which produces forecasts of where the price of energy is going.

Why it's not too late for pensioners to claim extra help and get the first £326 cost of living payment that is being sent out this week. (the number for claiming is 0800 991234) Plus, new data suggests many homeowners are fixing their mortgage rates early, in the hope of securing a better deal.

Presenter: Paul Lewis Reporter: Dan Whitworth Researcher: Sandra Hardial Editor: Jess Quayle

(First broadcast 12pm Saturday 23rd July, 12pm)

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one.
0:06.5	I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:11.2	I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects,
0:16.0	relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life.
0:22.4	So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas, the next fact-checking, a feature,
0:28.3	and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience, and maybe that's you.
0:33.6	So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds.
0:39.5	BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.
0:43.1	Hello, welcome to this MullyBox podcast.
0:46.1	There are widespread calls this week for changes in the way we're charged for electricity and gas,
0:51.5	but will market reform really reduce the eye-watering bills we expect this winter?
0:57.4	It's not too late for pensioners to claim extra help and get the first £326 pound cost of living payment that's being sent out this week.
1:08.2	And as the only way for bank rate is up, should people rush to fix their mortgages.
1:13.6	But first, food banks across the UK have told Moneybox they're facing increased demand,
1:19.6	but falling donations, as the cost of living crisis bites people across the income range.
1:25.6	Our exclusive research heard from people who run hundreds of
1:29.6	food banks and comes just days after another record high for inflation. Prices rose by 9.4% in the
1:36.9	year to June. That makes life tougher for all of us, especially of course the hundreds of thousands
1:41.6	of people food banks help, but also the donors who give food and money to them.
1:47.5	In collaboration with the BBC's data unit, Moneyboxes Dan Whitworth has been looking at this, Dan.
1:52.5	Well, this research, Paul, which took place in June, covered 116 out of 505 organisations which are part of IFAN.
2:00.7	That's the Independent Food Aid Network.
	...

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