Hackney Foodbank hosts APPG event on Ending the Need for Food Banks.

In May, we gave MPs an honest look into the tough situation facing Hackney Foodbank.

Hackney Foodbank hosted a roundtable for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (AAPG) on Ending the Need for Food Banks. We shared information with MPs, including our forecasts that predict a continual upward trend in demand, with an estimated 400 people supported per week by the end of June.

So far in 2022, we are already seeing demand that is more than double the pre-pandemic levels and continues to grow.

The meeting was attended by Hackney South and Shoreditch MP Dame Meg Hillier, North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain, and it involved discussions of the key changes from both local and national government that need to be made for a future without the need for food banks.

The AAPG was established in 2020 and features parliamentarians from all parties, to discuss how to end the need for food banks.

Hackney Foodbank was represented by our CEO Pat Fitzsimons, Development and Data Manager Geoffrey Sautner, and Head of Services Tanya Whitfield. The roundtable also had representatives from the Trussell Trust, Fair Money Advice, Praxis, and Family Action. 

The APPG on Ending the Need for Food Banks, with the support of the Trussell Trust, has recently launched a landmark new inquiry exploring the most dignified and effective ways to support people facing destitution, and they’re keen to hear from you! There are now only 4 weeks left until the call for evidence closes on Friday 8 July, so please make sure your voice is heard.

The inquiry, entitled ‘Cash or food? Exploring effective responses to destitution’ will explore how our communities and all levels of government can support people facing destitution, exploring the respective merits of providing emergency food aid, low-cost community food provision, and other ‘in kind’ support (for example, vouchers), or cash when someone faces a financial crisis.

The goal of the inquiry is to tackle the growing need for food banks and explore the range of solutions available to communities and government beyond food while providing a powerful tool with which to hold the government to account. In order to achieve this, the APPG needs as many and as varied responses to their call for evidence as possible, from people with experience, knowledge, or informed opinions on the issues that the inquiry is looking into.

If you are able to, please submit to the call for evidence by 8 July 2022 – you can find more information on the Trussell Trust’s website on how to do so.

The inquiry team would also be grateful if you could raise awareness about the inquiry, as well as a link to the call for evidence, with your networks – their Twitter is @FoodbanksAPPG, where they will be sharing the progress of the inquiry. If you would like to learn more about the APPG, the inquiry, or submitting to the call for evidence, please visit the Trussell Trust’s website.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the inquiry further, please don’t hesitate to contact the team via public.affairs@trusselltrust.org.