A report called State of Hunger, by the Trussell Trust, has found- 1.5 million unique households (5-6 % of all UK households) were supported by an independent food bank or a food bank in the Trussell Trust network between April 2016 and March 2020. Factors driving the use of food banks:
Social security
1. Low levels of benefit income and deductions
2. Other design issues, e.g. five-week wait for Universal Credit (UC) 3. Administrative problems
Life events & health
Local support
1. Common challenging life
experiences (e.g. becoming unemployed, homeless, divorced)
2. High rates of ill health and
Disability
Local support
1.Lack of local support services
2.No, or limited support from family or friends 3. Limited social networks
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