Food for thought - February 2023

Press release February 2023 (PDF version)

DEMAND FOR FOOD PARCELS UP 30% BECAUSE OF COST OF LIVING CRISIS

North Tyneside charity ‘The Bay Foodbank’ is reporting that demand for its food parcels was up 30% in January 2023 compared to January 2022. At the same time food donations from the public were down 45%. On top of the donations the foodbank is spending £10,000 a month on food for parcels.

The foodbank is at the heart of the North Tyneside community helping to provide food and essentials for those most in need. On a typical day anywhere between 30 and 50 emergency parcels are handed out providing 3,500 meals per week. Since launching in February 2012 over 47,000 parcels have been delivered to nearly every postcode in North Tyneside.

Rev Alan Dickinson (Chair of Trustees):

“We are seeing a worrying rise in demand from desperate families and households. The foodbank is at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis and unfortunately whilst demand is up 30%, food donations from the public are down 45%. Understandably people are finding it harder to contribute when their own bills are rising rapidly. It’s just awful to think that families, and in particular children, are going hungry.’’

Steph McGovern (Patron)

“I have been working with the foodbank for a few months now and can honestly say that without them a significant number of people in the local community would struggle to survive this crisis. The donations, the volunteers, the endless hours that are put in by everyone involved to support the families in our region is genuinely life saving for so many.”

BACKGROUND

Steph McGovern is an award-winning journalist and TV presenter. Born in North Shields and now living back in the North Tyneside area, Steph joined The Bay Foodbank as a patron in October 2023 after seeing the incredible work the team were doing to support her local community. Steph featured the foodbank on her Channel 4 show ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’ in December 2022 to highlight the pressure food banks are under and show how people can help.

The BAY Foodbank 2022 in review

As a fully independent foodbank we dealt with:

-          10% rise in parcels distributed year on year

-          >6,000 emergency parcels distributed (rising to >50 per day in December)

-          >164 referral agencies liaised with

-          45% decline in donations of food

The foodbank operates on a referral system which allows them to work with referrers and clients to tailor the parcel to the client’s need, such as accounting for the number of dependents, the client’s access to utilities and any religious or dietary needs. Each parcel contains a mix of fresh and longer life food, as well as basic toiletries and dog/cat food (upon request).

For more information contact maggie.walker@thebayfoodbank.org.uk

Website: www.thebayfoodbank.org.uk