Nearly 7 million people are said to be going hungry in the UK, including 2 million children. That is an increase of 2 million since the pandemic. Research suggests almost half of all children are living in families who are unable to meet the cost of some basic necessities.
A major new survey of more than 1,200 charities and community groups, which rely on food from FareShare to feed people at risk of hunger, highlights the dramatic impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on the most vulnerable families across the UK:
- 90% of the organisations say their services have been affected in some way by the cost-of-living crisis
- 71% “moderately” or “severely” affected
- 75% have seen an increase in demand for their services over the past year
- 87% provide vital wrap around care services as well as food. These services include support with unemployment or low income, homelessness, family break up and abuse, mental health issues and addiction
Food, fuel, clothes, travel, and household bills have all been rising steadily in recent months, with inflation now running at 6.2%, its highest level for 30 years. National insurance has also risen by 1.25% percentage points.
