Food bank britain: When society feeds the hungry Maddy Power, department of Health sciences, university of york

8.4 million people were living in households with not enough food in 2014. 2016: 13% adults marginally food secure. 8% low or very low security.

What is the response? (Loopstra, Reeves et al., BMJ, 2015.) 2009 Trussell Trust food banks in 29 local authorities 2013 Trussell Trust food banks in 251 local authorities (Loopstra, Reeves et al., BMJ, 2015.)

Why do people seek help with accessing food? Food bank ‘client’: “Over Christmas for three days I didn’t have access to universal job match, as I didn’t have access to a computer as everything was shut. The day I went to sign on I found I had been sanctioned. It went on for four weeks. I didn’t even have electricity whilst I was sanctioned as I couldn’t afford it, and I ended up at the food bank.”

What’s it like to ask for free food? Food bank ‘client’, female with two children: ‘Yes everything [Citizens Advice Bureau, food bank voucher and Crisis Loan]. It’s quite soul destroying, when you have to do it [seek outside help]. They have been fantastic, everybody, it’s not them, it’s me, it’s pride… I can’t do it all the time. But then you can’t not have money, so…’

Who should decide who eats? Food bank manager: ‘We had this agency sending us people from Poland, and then we had to say, “enough is enough” because they used to come up here totally pissed and collect a food parcel. So I put a stop to it, I said, “hang on a minute if the guy can afford to drink, then does he deserve a food parcel?”’ Food bank ‘client’, single male: ‘I mean it looks nice on paper… how it physically touches people’s lives, they don’t understand, they don’t even get into communities to talk to somebody… statistically speaking it’s perfect, but not physically and emotionally... What are they doing to people.’

What would you say to people in power? Food bank manager: ‘I am aware of criticisms of food banks, that they let the government have a lot more breathing room. Whose responsibility is it to feed the poor?’ Food bank ‘client’, mother with young baby: ‘I would like people in government to understand, that [homelessness and poverty] even with working people is far more widespread than they actually believe it is... It is getting worse. And then for them to do something about it… to have things in place where they are actually helping people, not isolating people. That’s what they should be doing.’

What should we do?