Food banks are now part of everyday life
Over a decade ago there were a lot less food banks in the UK. There were only around 35 food banks provided by the Trussel Trust in 2010 there are now many more. oday there are more than 2,500 of them across the UK, and about 1,300 are part of the Trussell Trust network, such as Chipping Barnet Food Bank. Many others sit in schools, churches, or small charities that are not counted at all. It is clear that food poverty is a big problem for the UK.
Why did they grow so quickly?
After the 2008 financial crash, the UK faced many years of austerity. Benefits were cut, public wages were frozen, and living costs kept rising. In places like Barnet, where fewer workers earn the London Living Wage, families felt these changes even more.
Why did they grow so quickly?
Many people who use food banks now have jobs but still cannot cover rent, energy bills, and food. Inflation and high gas prices have pushed budgets past the breaking point.
Food banks are doing jobs they were never meant to do
“We see people sleeping on sofas, cars, even in sheds,” says Bob Bevil from Chipping Barnet Food Bank. Some clients cannot even open tins or cook. The food bank now help people prepare food when they don’t have the basic essentials to prepare a meal!
More than food: wrap‑around support
Visitors may leave with much more than a parcel: legal advice, mental‑health help, or a new job. Barnet’s BOOST programme, for example, has moved several clients into paid work in construction.
Councils act in very different ways
Since COVID‑19, Westminster has sent money (the Household Support Fund) to local councils. But, as Bob says, “It’s shared out in 33 different ways across 33 London boroughs.” There is no single standard, so help depends on your postcode.
Some councils go further. Brent and Hackney call themselves “Right to Food Boroughs.” This means they must think about food access before making decisions that might hurt it, something that could have saved Barnet’s hub.
Community campaigns push for change
At the Barnet Food Partnership Summit in November 2024, local groups asked the council to adopt the Right to Food and backed the “Ensure the Essentials” campaign. The aim is simple: every household should be able to meet basic needs with dignity.
The bigger ask
Bob and many others say food banks should not replace good policy. They want a seat at the table when councils and MPs talk about poverty. “We’re not just here to hand out parcels,” Bob says. “We need to fix the reasons people come to us in the first place.”
Key point: Food banks show that the system is broken. The real goal is to build a society where no one needs to queue for free food anymore.
If you are looking to really challenge your English then find the two foodbank related podcasts here:
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and here:
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