The last few years have seen an unprecedented cost of living crisis and has lasted longer than expected with many barely staying afloat. This has led to a surge in foodbank usage and many falling below the poverty line because of living expenses rising whilst wages stagnate with no sign of increasing soon.
Entering the 2000s from the 1990s saw a slight increase in ‘breadline’ poor (having an net household income less than 60% of the UK average after housing costs) from 17.1% to 18.3% alongside a reduction of core poor from 15.3% to 14.1%. meanwhile the claimants of jobseeker’s allowance declined partly due to some of the claimants being shifted to incapacity benefit.
Despite the millennium starting off relatively well, the following decades would display an unforeseen decline. The unemployment rate had dropped below 70% in 2011 however, as of 2024 it has risen to around 75% and this can be put down to a number of factors such as BREXIT, COVID, policies, migration, and technological advancements (everything from self-checkouts to AI).
Whilst the unemployment rates fluctuate and the number of people falling below the poverty line rises an unfortunate trend has arisen in the use of food banks growing exponentially. Something that started off taboo and shameful has turned into a reality many people have had to depend upon and grow familiar with. Initially it was just the homeless and those well below the poverty line and those not in work having to claim help from foodbanks however, it has grown exponentially with even those who are in work having to turn to them. This rise in foodbank usage has coincided and partially contributed to the discontent with the aid being provided to people in this cost-of-living crisis and prior to this but it is only now with this crisis have people been awoken to the gravity of the situation. Number of people in food insecure standards has risen from 4.7 million to 7.2 million a staggering 2.5 million increase.
Trussell Trust a charitable organisation which runs many foodbanks spanning across the UK has recorded an increase of over 3 million emergency food supplies being distributed since 2010. There has also been a 94% increase in their use in the last 5 years. With the shift to universal credit in 2024 there has been a 50% increase in foodbank usage in areas where universal credit is being claimed. It has also been estimated that over 11 million people or roughly 14% of UK adults have undergone food insecurity in 2023.
This apparent decline has been attributed by many to be due to lack of infrastructure and adapting to the current climate appropriately as seen by certain policies coming into place. One of the impacts that has yet to be seen is the impact that this will have on the younger generations as more and more children have been forced into consuming these emergency supplies handed out in food banks through no fault of their own. It could have a detrimental and long lasting impact on how the people who will shape our future develop and the psychological effects it will have on them.