Foodbank use in Britain rockets by 13% as more families struggle to cope

LONDON - The number of families in crisis in Britain relying on food banks has increased in the past year by 13 percent, a report by the charity, the Trussell Trust revealed Tuesday.

In its annual report the trust said that between April 2017 and March 2018, its network of foodbanks distributed 1,332,952 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis. In the previous year the Trussell Trust said the increase was 6.64 percent.

Children made up over 480,000 of those receiving food from foodbanks in the past year.

The trust said 28 percent of referrals to foodbanks came from people on low income, many saying that welfare benefits was not enough to cover the cost of buying essentials.

Emma Revie, CEO of The Trussell Trust, said: "As a nation we expect no one should be left hungry or destitute -- illness, disability, family breakdown or the loss of a job could happen to any of us. It's hard to break free from hunger if there isn't enough money coming in to cover the rising cost of absolute essentials like food and housing.

"For too many people staying above water is a daily struggle. It's completely unacceptable that anyone is forced to turn to a foodbank as a result."

The trust said new analysis of 38 foodbanks in areas where the government has rolled out its flagship Universal Credit welfare system, shows they experienced a 52 percent increase in foodbank referrals.

The charity has called for benefit levels to be uprated in line with inflation to ensure payments keep pace with the cost of living, particularly for disabled people and families with dependent children who are particularly at risk of needing a foodbank.

Revie added: "Universal Credit is the future of our benefits system. It's vital we get it right, and ensure levels of payment keep pace with the rising cost of essentials, particularly for groups of people we know are already more likely to need a foodbank, disabled people, people dealing with an illness, families with children and single parents."

The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity that runs a network of 428 foodbanks across Britain.