News
Food poverty crisis continues: Slough Foodbank publishes full year statistics for January – December 2024
20th January 2025
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Food poverty crisis continues in Slough and the surrounding areas with a 7% increase in emergency food parcels in 2024, versus 2023.
KEY MESSAGES:
- Food poverty crisis continues: 12,147 food parcels distributed up 7%
- Positive impact from Financial Inclusion Project: over £116,000 in financial gains for clients
- Food donations urgently needed: stock purchasing increased by 163% as demand grows and donations slow
COMMENTARY
Another year where more people than ever are forced to turn to Slough Foodbank
More people are being dragged into debt and having to turn to food banks to survive. This escalating hardship creates dire consequences for individuals and the Slough community as a whole. It’s not a trend that’s acceptable.
During 2024, the percentage increase in demand is lower than the previous 5 years and we are hopeful that the introduction of the Financial Inclusion Project is starting to have a positive effect on the number of times a client needs to visit a Foodbank.
Full year stats released – 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 versus the same period in 2023
2024 Jan – Dec |
2023 Jan – Dec |
Percentage change | ||
Adults | 7,675 | 7,171 | 7% increase | |
Children | 4,472 | 4,129 | 8% increase | |
Total | 12,147 | 11,300 | 7% increase |
Number of food parcels provided by month
Month | Number of food parcels 2024 | Number of food parcels 2023 | Change |
January | 1,132 | 1,050 | 8% increase |
February | 953 | 917 | 4% increase |
March* | 988 | 1,218 | 19% decrease |
April | 1,010 | 846 | 19% increase |
May | 999 | 742 | 35% increase |
June | 1,002 | 937 | 7% increase |
July | 1,014 | 848 | 20% increase |
August | 1,039 | 878 | 18% increase |
September | 1,013 | 804 | 26% increase |
October | 1,124 | 893 | 26% increase |
November | 883 | 1,008 | 12% decrease |
December | 994 | 1,159 | 17% decrease |
*March 2023 was the busiest month ever for Slough Foodbank
Graph showing number of food parcels by month for 2022, 2023 and 2024, along with dates of Government Cost of Living payments (CLP).
* The timing of the cost of living payments both in 2023 and 2024 meant that March 2023 was the busiest month ever for Slough Foodbank, whereas the payment in Feb 2024 would have helped cause a temporary decrease in need.
Dates of CLP: July 2022, November 2022, April 2023, November 2023 and February 2024.
Total number of food parcels provided over the last 5 years
Year | Total number of food parcels | % change on previous year |
2020 | 6,350 | 37% increase |
2021 | 7,360 | 13% increase |
2022 | 9,322 | 27% increase |
2023 | 11,300 | 21% increase |
2024 | 12,147 | 7% increase |
2024 is the lowest percentage increase since the Pandemic. The need for emergency food is still persistently high and the number of food parcels provided has increased by 154% versus the pre-pandemic 2019 figure of 4,783 food parcels.
Graph showing number of food parcels by year
Financial Inclusion Project
In October 2023, with funding provided by Trussell, we launched our Financial Inclusion Project with Citizens Advice East Berkshire (CAEB). The aim of the project is to help our clients who have underlying issues relating to benefits, debt, low income, discrimination at work, housing, homelessness or ill health.
In the first year of the project running (October 2023 to September 2024) 182 clients were referred to CAEB. Between them they had 1,825 issues, demonstrating the complexity of their situations. Over the year there was £116,163 received in financial gains for these clients. In addition, we have also signposted many clients to alternative sources of help and support.
Slough Foodbank Manager, Laura Cole commented:
“Our distribution centres operate 6 days a week, so we knew firsthand that the demand for our services was increasing. It is so disheartening to see the continuing deprivation in the local area leading people to turn to Slough Foodbank for support, often as a last resort.
With a 7% increase in food parcels, and at an all-time high for demand, we are under real pressure to meet this need both on supply of food, which we rely on donations for, as well as volunteers. This year we had to buy food to meet the requirements, spending 163% more than last year. We’re calling on people to support us with food donations. It also takes around 85 volunteers to run Slough Foodbank each week and we’re asking people to consider if they can regularly spare a few hours to volunteer with us.
This year, through our partnership with CAEB, we have been able to help clients access their financial entitlements. The £116,000 financial gain for clients makes a significant difference and we are hopeful this will lead to less dependence on the Foodbank in the future. We’re focusing on tackling root causes of poverty to find a more permanent route out of poverty.”
Slough Foodbank’s primary function is to supply a three-day emergency food parcel to those who suddenly find themselves in an unexpected crisis. In addition to food, we also supply basic toiletries and household products, as well as nappies, baby wipes and pet food if required.
We provided 913 SIM cards for clients to use in their mobile phone (a decrease of 30%), each valid for 6 months with free calls and texts and internet data (20GB per month), which is important in helping people stay digitally connected and have access to the support they need.
We also provided 776 emergency fuel vouchers (a decrease of 1%) for home gas or electricity for clients who qualify to receive food parcels, and who top up their meter at a PayPoint or a Post Office. This is to enable clients to cook the food we provide or heat their homes. The increase in fuel costs meant that many clients faced the tough decision over the winter months of whether to eat or heat their homes.
In December, we provided 228 Christmas Hampers to households to help bring a little joy to people struggling in food poverty crisis over Christmas.
SUPPORTING SLOUGH FOODBANK
If you would like to support Slough Foodbank, there are a number of ways you can get involved:
- Donate Food
- Donate Money
- Volunteer
Please visit our website for more information:
https://slough.foodbank.org.uk/give-help-2/
Notes:
Slough Foodbank has been providing emergency food parcels to people in food poverty crisis since 2010. The area we support covers from Taplow in the West to Colnbrook in the East, and from Gerrards Cross, The Farnhams and Iver, to Datchet. We operate 6 days a week, out of 5 distributions centres in Slough (town centre), Langley, Cippenham, Iver and Britwell.
Our statistics are a measure of volume rather than unique users. The data is collected using an online system recording each food bank voucher and the number of emergency food supplies provided to each adult and child.
For example, if a family of three were referred to Slough Foodbank twice in one year, this would count as six food parcels on the system because it would reflect six instances of a supply going to someone in the household. However, if a family of three were only referred to a Slough Foodbank once, this would count as three food parcels.