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New figures have revealed the large increase in foodbank demand in December and as this chart shows, the need is also increasing year on year. In December 2017, the Trust gave out almost 160,000 three-day emergency food supplies, marking a ten percent increase on on the previous year and a big jump of 49 percent compared to the 2017/18 monthly average.

Commenting on the figures, The Trussell Trust’s Chief Executive, Emma Revie, said: “Christmas is supposed to be a time for joy but what we’re seeing is the festive period becoming increasingly stressful for more and more people across the country." Delays to initial payments of the controversial Universal Credit are expected to drive the need for foodbanks even higher this year, with Revie adding: "Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty – but what we’re seeing is people struggling to heat homes and put food on the table because they simply cannot afford the basics anymore and that just isn’t right.”