Norwich Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network of almost 1400 food bank centres. Over 40% of children in Norwich now live in poverty. In the 12 months to 31st May 2022, the Foodbank provided nearly 9000 emergency food supplies. Like me, the Foodbank and the Trust are adamant that there should be no need for food banks in the U.K and actively campaign to end food poverty.

When I visited, I was impressed by how hard volunteers and staff work to ensure supplies get to the people who need them. We also talked about how scarily commonplace food banks have become.

Since the Tories came to power in 2010, the number of children growing up in relative poverty has increased by half a million; the most significant increase in child poverty since records began in 1994/95. Poverty in families where someone is disabled has risen by over a million since 2010, and in-work poverty has increased by at least 1.5 million.

The sharp rise in the cost of energy, food and other essentials, alongside the £20 cut to universal credit in October 2021, has brought tens of thousands more people to the doors of Trust food banks in the East of England.

Norwich Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s ‘Pathfinder’ programme. That programme has the motto, “Together we can create a future where nobody goes hungry because nobody will allow it”. I couldn’t agree more.

If you’re struggling to afford the essentials or need advice and support, please take a look at this page.