In 2023/24 approximately 3.12 million people used a food bank in the United Kingdom, an increase when compared with the previous year. Since 2008/09, the number of food bank users increased significantly, with just under 26,000 using food banks that year.

In 2020, approximately four percent of participants in the age group16 to 24 stated in a survey conducted in the United Kingdom (U.K.) that they or people in their household never ran out of food and that they then did not have enough money to buy more food. Among the age group of those 75 and older, it was 91 percent. Data coverage excludes Scotland.

Understanding the characteristics associated with experiencing energy and food insecurity; logistic regression analysis using data from the Winter Survey.

In 2023/24 there were 1,699 food bank distribution centers run by the UK's main food bank distributor, the Trussell Trust, compared with 1,646 in the previous year. In this year, over 3.12 million people used a food bank in the UK, compared with just under 26,000 in 2008/09.

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 2.1 commits countries to end hunger, ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year around. Indicator 2.1.2, “Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)”, provides internationally-comparable estimates of the proportion of the population facing difficulties in accessing food. More detailed background information is available at http://www.fao.org/in-action/voices-of-the-hungry/fies/en/ .

The FIES-based indicators are compiled using the FIES survey module, containing 8 questions. Two indicators can be computed: 1. The proportion of the population experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity (SDG indicator 2.1.2), 2. The proportion of the population experiencing severe food insecurity. These data were collected by FAO through the Gallup World Poll. General information on the methodology can be found here: https://www.gallup.com/178667/gallup-world-poll-work.aspx. National institutions can also collect FIES data by including the FIES survey module in nationally representative surveys.

Microdata can be used to calculate the indicator 2.1.2 at national level. Instructions for computing this indicator are described in the methodological document available under the "DOCUMENTATION" tab above. Disaggregating results at sub-national level is not encouraged because estimates will suffer from substantial sampling and measurement error.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

Individuals

Universe

Individuals of 15 years or older.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Landline and Mobile RDD. The landline sample was stratified by region. Exclusions: Agency blacklisted Numbers Design effect: 1.43

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Telephone Interview [cati]

Cleaning operations

Statistical validation assesses the quality of the FIES data collected by testing their consistency with the assumptions of the Rasch model. This analysis involves the interpretation of several statistics that reveal 1) items that do not perform well in a given context, 2) cases with highly erratic response patterns, 3) pairs of items that may be redundant, and 4) the proportion of total variance in the population that is accounted for by the measurement model.

Sampling error estimates

The margin of error is estimated as 3.7 .This is calculated around a proportion at the 95% confidence level. The maximum margin of error was calculated assuming a reported percentage of 50% and takes into account the design effect. The margin of error is estimated as 3.7 .This is calculated around a proportion at the 95% confidence level. The maximum margin of error was calculated assuming a reported percentage of 50% and takes into account the design effect.

Around one quarter of surveyed parents in the UK stated that they had relied on only a few kinds of low-cost food from March to September, 2020. Additionally, some 16 percent of respondents said that their child went a day without eating.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Trussell Trust has commissioned 'Hunger in the UK', a multi-year large-scale quantitative and qualitative research project to help support their strategic vision of ending the need for food banks. The Trussell Trust has appointed Ipsos Mori to deliver this research. The project focuses on three elements, each intended to build on existing evidence from research that the Trussell Trust had previously commissioned:1. Exploring the life experiences and socio-demographics of people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network through quantitative research. This study includes a survey of people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network. The survey collected a broad range of demographic and socioeconomic status information at both the individual and household level.2. A survey of the general population of the United Kingdom to establish benchmarks of, and track over time, the level of destitution, food-aid use, and food insecurity amongst this population. This survey mirrors the survey of people referred to food banks, thereby allowing for a comparative analysis of both populations. 3. Qualitative research with people experiencing food insecurity and destitution to understand their lived experience and enrich understanding of the drivers of food bank use and the impact on individuals and families.**Currently, this study includes only the survey data from elements 1. and 2. of the project.The research aims to contribute to the Trussell Trust’s goal of ending the need for food banks across the UK by providing evidence on the drivers of food insecurity and the need to receive support from a food bank. It allows exploration of the groups of people who are more likely to need support, how these experiences differ across the countries of the United Kingdom and what factors may allow people to escape food insecurity.Further information may be found on The Trussell Trust's Hunger in the UK webpage. Main Topics: The survey data collected includesHousehold composition, activities and employment Attitudinal statements Health and personal support Life events and housing Finance Sources of support and cost of living Food insecurityDemographics Food Bank Survey: Questionnaires were distributed in food parcels by 99 food banks. These food banks were selected at random. General Population Survey: A random probability unclustered address-based sampling method. This means that every household in the UK has a known chance of being selected to join the panel. Self-completion 2022 AGE BASIC NEEDS CHARITABLE ORGANIZA... CHILDREN CONDITIONS OF EMPLO... COST OF LIVING COSTS Consumption and con... DEBILITATIVE ILLNESS DEBTS DISABLED PERSONS ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS ETHNIC GROUPS EXPENDITURE Equality FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES FINANCIAL RESOURCES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOOD AID FOOD AND NUTRITION FOOD RESOURCES FOSTER CARE FREE SCHOOL MEALS GENDER IDENTITY HOMELESSNESS HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS HOUSEHOLD INCOME HOUSEHOLDS HOUSING BENEFITS HOUSING TENURE HUNGER ILL HEALTH INFORMAL CARE INTERNET ACCESS LIFE EVENTS MARITAL STATUS MENTAL HEALTH PERSONAL DEBT REPAY... POVERTY RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SAVINGS SEXUAL ORIENTATION SHOPPING SOCIAL ATTITUDES SOCIAL PARTICIPATION SOCIAL SECURITY BEN... SOCIAL SUPPORT SOCIAL WELFARE Social welfare policy Society and culture UNEMPLOYMENT United Kingdom WAGES WELL BEING HEALTH inequality and soci... Identifier

Estimates on the demographics and characteristics of sandwich carers as well as different aspects of their life, such as employment, health, satisfaction, finances, loneliness and food insecurity. Using data from Understanding Society, January 2021 to May 2023.

Food banks – charitable projects providing free parcels of food for people in need to take away, prepare and eat - have existed in high-income countries for decades, but their spread in the UK is generally linked to the establishment and growth of The Trussell Trust’s member-based food bank network. Since 2011, The Trussell Trust has been publishing data on the volume of food bank use across their network, made available from their standardised data collection system. These data have almost exclusively been the source of information on food bank use for the UK and, in the absence of national food insecurity monitoring before 2016, have typically been used as a barometer for food insecurity. The Trussell Trust’s model for food banks is also well-established, involving establishing relationships with third-party local social and health service agencies who provide referrals; requiring that people in need of assistance have a referral for use; collecting data through the referral system; and guiding their member food banks to follow-up with referral agencies if they provide more than three referrals to a single client in a 6-month period.

There is, however, increasing recognition of a much larger landscape of food parcel distribution through independent food banks not affiliated with The Trussell Trust. Research conducted by various researchers over 2014 to 2016 in England, Wales and Scotland found that in some places where no Trussell Trust food banks existed, there were well-established independent food banks operating. In other places, both Trussell Trust and independent food banks were operating. In 2017, Sabine Goodwin on behalf of the Independent Food Aid Network, identified over 500 food parcel distribution projects or food banks (for ease, referred to as food banks going forward) operating outside of The Trussell Trust’s food bank network.

Although it has been evident that there are a large number of independent organisations and charities distributing food parcels, little has been known about when or why they were established, how they operate, and whom they serve. This lack of insight stands in contrast with research produced about, and from, The Trussell Trust, which includes numerous studies on the characteristics of people using their food banks and ways of operating, and qualitative studies of the user experience.

To begin to fill these gaps, this survey of independent food banks was undertaken to build understanding of independent food parcel distribution projects operating outside of The Trussell Trust in England over 2018 to 2019.

The aim of this research was to understand the role independent food banks have in responding to hunger and food poverty in the UK.

The specific topics explored in this survey were: • Independent food banks' aims, services offered, and other activities engaged in both locally and nationally related to food poverty; • The operational characteristics of independent food banks including when they opened, how they are staffed, opening times, how data is collected, and how food parcels are made up. The potential factors that influence these, including funding, space availability, and influence of other organisations, were also explored. • Groups independent food banks serve and how people access their services; and • How independent food banks experience and respond to changes in demand, and opinions about how food bank usage could be reduced.

Nearly unheard of before 2010, in 2014/15 the UK's largest network of food banks, the Trussell Trust, distributed over one million food parcels, over sixteen-times the number distributed in 2010/11.

In light of rising food bank use, the issue of hunger is at the forefront of domestic political debate in the UK. Have welfare reforms caused rising hunger or are people just taking advantage of newly available free food? Are people really struggling to afford enough food or is this a problem of lack of food skills? These debates have revealed the limited evidence on the scope and causes of insecure access to food in the UK, impeding development of appropriate policy and practice responses.

This project was part of a wider study that explored food insecurity in the UK. The aims of this aspect of the project were to gather data on food banks operating independently of the Trussell Trust to understand when they started operating, their reasons for doing so, dynamics of their operations in relation to need, and the constraints on their services that might influence the numbers of people who receive food from them. Gathering this information provided critical information for understanding trends of rising food bank use since 2010.

This Archive contains shapefiles for FEWS NET Food Security Outlook for Southern Africa.

It was last updated on February 05, 2016. The classification used is IPC V2.0 Compatible, aimed to address acute food insecurity.

The two shapefiles represent the two analytic periods:

• SA201304_ML1 Most likely food security outcome for October-December 2015
• SA201304_ML2 Most likely food security outcome for January-March 2016

Within the shapefiles, the food security outlook is contained in a field named as ML1 or ML2 according to the outlook period. The code itself is the IPC phase. Two additional codes are used:

• 66 = water
• 88 = parks, forests, reserves
• 99 = missing data (usually urban centers).

The London Borough of Redbridge was modelled as the local authority with the highest share of children with very low food security in the UK in 2020. Just over one quarter of children living in this area were estimated to have very low food security. Tower Hamlets followed in second place. Food security is a measure of availability and access to food.

The share of children with very low food security in the UK reached around 14 percent in 2020, an increase of three percent compared to 2019. The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is a likely factor in this growth.

人口中普遍存在严重的粮食不足：占人口百分比在12-01-2020达1.100%，相较于12-01-2019的0.700%有所增长。人口中普遍存在严重的粮食不足：占人口百分比数据按年更新，12-01-2015至12-01-2020期间平均值为1.500%，共6份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-2016，达2.100%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2019，为0.700%。CEIC提供的人口中普遍存在严重的粮食不足：占人口百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于全球数据库的英国 – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics。

Dataset containing results of the 2018 Leicester Health and Wellbeing Survey for questions related to Food and Fuel Poverty. Wards with five or fewer responses have been supressed to maintain anonymity. It shows which areas are most affected by Fuel/Food poverty.

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The Millennium Survey of Poverty and Social Exclusion (PSE) was designed to update the Breadline Britain Surveys which were conducted by Mori in 1983 and 1990 (see also Gordon et al, Breadline Britain in the 1990s). Firstly, a representative sample of the population of Great Britain was asked for their views on what constitutes the necessities of life in present day Britain. This was done in June 1999 using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Omnibus Survey. Secondly, a specially selected sample was drawn from respondents to the 1998/99 General Household Survey, and interviewed in detail about their circumstances and their views on a range of issues associated with poverty and social exclusion. This dataset is associated with the second aspect of the survey; the follow-up to the GHS, referred to as PSE. The aims of the PSE survey were: To update the Breadline Britain Surveys; To estimate the size of groups of households in different circumstances; To explore movement in and out of poverty; To look at age and gender difference in experiences of and responses to poverty. It is planned that a similar survey will be carried out in other countries. Main Topics: The main topics covered include housing, health, time poverty, social networks and support, necessities, finance and debts, intra-household poverty, poverty over time, absolute and overall poverty, area deprivation, local services, crime, child's school, perceptions of poverty, activism as well as some demographics and information on income. A Kish Grid was used (see documentation for further information) Face-to-face interview Compilation or synthesis of existing material The face-to-face interviewing was done using CAPI and the interview included a card-sorting exercise. A Computer Assisted Self Interviewing (CASI) module was used to collect answers to sensitive questions, such as those on crime. Where the respondent was reluctant or unable to complete the self-completion section on the laptop the interviewer asked the respondent's permission to ask these questions. Some data were also obtained for this study from the General Household Survey. 1999 ADOPTED CHILDREN ADULTS AGE ALCOHOL USE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS APARTMENTS APPRENTICESHIP ATTITUDES BANK ACCOUNTS BASIC NEEDS BATHROOMS BEDROOMS BONUS PAYMENTS BUILDING MAINTENANCE BUILDING SOCIETY AC... BUSINESSES CARE OF DEPENDANTS CARE OF THE DISABLED CARE OF THE ELDERLY CENTRAL HEATING CEREMONIES CHILD BENEFITS CHILD CARE CHILD DAY CARE CHILDREN CHIROPODY CHRONIC ILLNESS CLEANING CLOTHING COHABITATION COLOUR TELEVISION R... COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS COMPACT DISC PLAYERS COMPANY CARS COMPUTERS CONSUMER GOODS CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES COOKING COSTS CRIME AND SECURITY DEBTS DENTISTS DEPRESSION DISABILITIES DISABLED PERSONS DISTANCE LEARNING DIVORCE DOMESTIC APPLIANCES DOMESTIC RESPONSIBI... ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND EDUCATIONAL COURSES EDUCATIONAL INSTITU... ELDERLY ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY EMPLOYEES EMPLOYERS EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT HISTORY ETHNIC GROUPS EXAMINATIONS EXPECTATION Equality FAMILIES FAMILY MEMBERS FATHER S PLACE OF B... FERTILITY FINANCIAL RESOURCES FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOOD FOOD AND NUTRITION FOSSIL FUELS FOSTER CHILDREN FRIENDS FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT FURNISHED ACCOMMODA... FURTHER EDUCATION GAS SUPPLY GENDER GENERAL PRACTITIONERS Great Britain HEADS OF HOUSEHOLD HEALTH HEALTH CONSULTATIONS HEALTH SERVICES HEALTH VISITORS HEARING HEARING AIDS HEARING IMPAIRMENTS HEATING SYSTEMS HIGHER EDUCATION HOBBIES HOLIDAYS HOME BUYING HOME HELP HOME OWNERSHIP HOME SHARING HOME VISITS HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT... HOSPITAL SERVICES HOSPITALIZATION HOURS OF WORK HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS HOUSEHOLDS HOUSES HOUSEWORK HOUSING HOUSING AGE HOUSING FACILITIES HOUSING TENURE INCOME INSURANCE INTEREST FINANCE INTERNET INVESTMENT JOB HUNTING KITCHENS LANDLORDS LEISURE TIME ACTIVI... LOANS MANAGERS MARITAL HISTORY MARITAL STATUS MARRIAGE MARRIAGE DISSOLUTION MATERNITY PATIENTS MEALS ON WHEELS MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS MOBILE HOMES MORTGAGES MOTHER S PLACE OF B... MOTOR VEHICLES NEIGHBOURS NURSES OCCUPATIONAL PENSIONS OCCUPATIONAL QUALIF... OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING OCCUPATIONS ONE PARENT FAMILIES OPTICIANS OVERTIME PARENTS PART TIME COURSES PART TIME EMPLOYMENT PATIENTS PENSIONS PERSONAL DEBT REPAY... PERSONAL HYGIENE PHYSICIANS PLACE OF BIRTH POLICE SERVICES POVERTY PREGNANCY PRIVATE PERSONAL PE... PRIVATE SECTOR PROFESSIONAL CONSUL... PUBLIC HOUSES PUBLIC TRANSPORT QUALIFICATIONS REDUNDANCY PAY RENTED ACCOMMODATION RENTS RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY RETIREMENT ROOM SHARING ROOMS SANDWICH COURSES SATELLITE RECEIVERS SAVINGS SCHOOL LEAVING AGE SELF EMPLOYED SHARED HOME OWNERSHIP SHELTERED HOUSING SHOPPING SIBLINGS SICK PERSONS SMOKING SMOKING CESSATION SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE SOCIAL EXCLUSION SOCIAL HOUSING SOCIAL SECURITY BEN... SOCIAL SECURITY CON... SOCIAL SUPPORT SOCIAL WORKERS SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS SPORT SPOUSES STANDARD OF LIVING STATE RETIREMENT PE... STEPCHILDREN STERILIZATION MEDICAL STUDENTS SUBSIDIARY EMPLOYMENT SUPERVISORS Social behaviour an... Social conditions a... Specific social ser... TELEPHONES TELEVISION CHANNELS TELEVISION RECEIVERS TIED HOUSING TOBACCO TRAINING COURSES UNEMPLOYED UNEMPLOYMENT UNFURNISHED ACCOMMO... UNWAGED WORKERS VACANT HOUSING VIDEO RECORDERS VISION IMPAIRMENTS VISITS PERSONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATIO... WAGES WALKING WATER SUPPLY WIDOWED inequality and soci...

The data set includes the Admin1 boundaries and population estimates summarized from three sources as separate attributes: LandScan (2015), WorldPop (2010, 2015, and 2020), and Gridded Population of the World, version 4 (2015, 2020). The IPC Food Insecurity Phase Classification for Near and Medium Term (2017) are also included as attributes.

This dataset will be published as Open DataThis dataset was created by joining Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation Datazone geographies and The Priority Places for Food Index which was developed by the CDRC at the University of Leeds in collaboration with Which?.A composite index formed of data compiled across seven different dimensions relating to food insecurity risk for the four nations in the UK. This version (Version 2.1, July 2024) reflects changes to the data and policy landscape which are detailed in the user guide below.The Priority Places for Food Index (https://priorityplaces.cdrc.ac.uk/) is constructed using open data to capture complex and multidimensional aspects of food insecurity risk. The index was initially developed in response to the 2022 cost of living crisis which has put many of our communities under severe financial pressure and at an increased risk of food insecurity. Building on the CDRC e-food desert index (EFDI), but with additional domains relating to fuel poverty and family food support, the goal of the Priority Places for Food Index is to identify neighbourhoods that are most vulnerable to increases in the cost of living and which have a lack of accessibility to cheap, healthy, and sustainable sources of food.From version 1 to version 2, data have been updated across several of the seven PPFI domains. This includes new area socio-demographics, foodbank, and food retailer location data. Data relating to Free School Meal eligibility has also been updated to reflect the changing policy landscape and to address regional inconsistencies in policies. Areas may look different to version one as a result of the new data incorporated or changes to neighbourhood boundaries. Because of these data changes we recommend that you don’t make comparisons between the versions.The index can be used to inform supermarket location analytics, improve the availability of budget food lines, and to ensure scare resources are targeted effectively.Note: Subject to the Department of Health and Social Care making a statement highlighting inaccuracies in the Healthy Start Uptake data between July 2023-February 2024, we have updated Version 2 of the Priority Places for Food Index (PPFI). Version 2.1 of the PPFI replaces the October 2023 uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers values with the average voucher uptake between January and June 2023 to minimise the impact on the Priority Places for Food Index insights.

In 2023, approximately 25 percent of participants from a survey in the United Kingdom (without Scotland) stated that they were food security.