Local MP Matt Western has been out helping the Trussell Trust's foodbanks in Warwick district, providing emergency food and support to people facing hardship.

Between April 2022 and March 2023, foodbanks provided almost three million food supplies to people in crisis, which was an increase of 37 per cent compared with the previous year. 

MP for Warwick and Leamington Mr Western visited the staff and volunteers at their Saltisford foodbank on Friday (December 15) to donate supplies and hear from the team about what they needed and how the service was coping in the lead up to Christmas. 

The team shared they particularly need donations of the below items and have been busy over recent months as people continue to feel the pressure from the cost-of-living crisis:

• Deodorant 
• Shampoo 
• Conditioner 
• Shaving gel 
• Razors 
• Laundry powder 
• Squash 
• Mayo 
• Jam 

The need for foodbanks has significantly increased in the past decade.

In 2010/11, 61,000 food parcels were distributed.

In 2022/23, Trussell Trust foodbanks saw the highest levels of need ever, superseding the peak during the pandemic and distributed almost three million. 

Matt Western visited the staff and volunteers at their Saltisford foodbank (image supplied)

It has also been reported that more working people are needing to turn to foodbanks for support and foodbanks across the UK are changing opening hours to ensure working people needing to access their services can do so outside of working hours. 

On the visit and the statistics, Mr Western said: "The teams at our local foodbanks do such a crucial job at providing these sadly much-needed services to our communities and I am always pleased to support them however I can. 

"It is hugely concerning to see such a massive rise in just the last year of people being forced to turn to foodbanks, 37% is a massive increase. 

"These statistics follow a deeply worrying trend we have seen over the past decade of more and more people and families left with no choice but to use a foodbank. 

"I remain so grateful to the brilliant team for all they do and encourage anyone who can to donate some supplies to keep them going into the new year." 

"If people would like to make a donation or use the services, further information is available here."