38,700 emergency food parcels provided across Bristol and South Glos as need remains high

38,700 emergency food parcels provided to people facing hunger by Bristol and South Glos Foodbanks in the past 12 months 

• Alarmingly, more than 14,400 of the parcels were provided for children in the last year

• This come as new annual figures from Trussell show that 2,885,086 food parcels were given out across the UK.

• Anti-poverty charity Trussell, says this should be a 'wake-up call’ for the UK government to strengthen the social security system and re-think cuts to welfare that risk forcing more people to food banks

Over 38,700 emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship between April 2024 and March 2025, with 14,400 of these provided for children, according to new figures from North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank released today.

The three Trussell food banks operating across Bristol and South Gloucestershire have together seen a 4% slight decrease in the number of emergency food parcels distributed compared to last year. Despite this slight dip, the area has seen persistently high levels of food bank need over the last five years, and a 62% increase when compared with the same period in 2019 - 2020.

Ellen Wood, Manager of North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank, said:

“We've seen a slight dip in food parcels this year, which shows our collective efforts are making a difference. But many people across Bristol and South Glos still face hunger. Behind these numbers are real people - parents skipping meals so their children can eat, elderly people in cold homes, and working families who can't stretch their wages far enough.

We're actively developing access to advice and services that will help people move away from needing emergency food, but we're concerned that upcoming changes to disabled benefits will increase pressure on food banks and reverse our progress. We need both immediate community support through donations and long-term policy changes that ensure everyone has enough money for life's essentials.”

NBSG Foodbank is part of the Trussell community of food banks, which has reported persistently high levels of need in the last 12 months with almost 3 million (2,885,086) emergency food parcels provided to people facing hardship across the UK between April 2024 and March 2025. More than a million of these parcels were provided for children.

NBSG Foodbank believes everybody should have enough money in their pockets to put food on the table and is calling on the community to play their part to help end the need for emergency food in the UK. Until then, the public can help make sure NBSG Foodbank continues to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice in the year ahead by donating food or funds at nbsg.foodbank.org.uk.

Emma Revie, chief executive of Trussell, said: “Far too many children, families, disabled people, working people, and elderly people from across Bristol and South Glos needed to access food banks for emergency food in the past year. This should be a wake-up call to government and a stark reminder of their responsibilities to the people of Bristol and South Glos.

“A whole generation has now grown up in Bristol and South Glos where sustained high levels of food bank need feels like the norm. The community has teachers, doctors, and healthcare professionals now routinely referring people to food banks as part of their day-to-day jobs, showing how emergency food has sadly become a fixture. If you can, please play your part and help change this.”

Visit nbsg.foodbank.org.uk to find out how you can help today.

You can find out how many emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship in your local area on the Trussell website: nbsg.foodbank.org.uk/postcode