A record 9.3 million people, including one in five children, are facing hunger and hardship in the UK, as reported by an anti-poverty charity. The analysis of the latest data by Trussell showed that 6.3 million adults and three million children are living well below the poverty line, with many likely using food banks or at risk of doing so. This total figure, for the year up to March 2023, has seen an increase of 580,000 from the previous year, rising by a million in the past five years, setting a record high since comparable records began in 2000.
Trussell, which runs a network of food banks across the UK, highlighted that these figures translate to one in seven (14.0%) people and one in five (20.9%) children facing hunger and hardship. The charity emphasized the impact of a “generous donation” made by US singer Taylor Swift to 1,400 food banks during her recent tour, bringing attention to the critical work of food banks. However, without governmental action, Trussell projects a further 425,000 individuals, including 170,000 children, facing hunger and hardship by 2026/27.
The charity’s analysis revealed that over half (53%) of those facing hardship live in disabled families, while nearly a third (32%) come from single-parent households. Infants and children up to four years old are at the highest risk among all age groups. Alarmingly, almost six in 10 (58%) of those at risk have at least one working family member. The data also indicated disparities, with significantly higher proportions of people from black, African, Caribbean, and black British families experiencing hunger and hardship compared to white families.
Helen Barnard, director of policy, research, and impact at Trussell, expressed concern over these findings, stating that such high levels of poverty should not exist in a wealthy nation like the UK. The charity proposed an “Essentials Guarantee” to ensure Universal Credit adequately covers basic necessities, which it believes could significantly reduce the number of people facing hardship. Trussell also called for the removal of the two-child limit and the benefit cap, changes that could prevent hundreds of thousands from experiencing hunger and hardship by 2026.
Campaigners and some MPs have advocated for the removal of these policies, but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has cited fiscal constraints in retaining them. Ms. Barnard urged the government to prioritize social security reform to address the root causes of poverty and prevent more individuals from falling into hardship. Trussell’s research was carried out in collaboration with WPI Economics, using income survey data to define hunger and hardship as being more than 25% below the poverty line as determined by the Social Metric Commission.
In response, a Government spokesperson affirmed the commitment to addressing child poverty through initiatives such as the Child Poverty Taskforce and the Household Support Fund. They also pledged to review Universal Credit to tackle inequality and enhance support systems. Amid these challenges, calls for urgent governmental action to alleviate hunger and hardship remain imperative.