- A total of 66 per cent of food hub users are worried about being able to afford enough food to feed themselves or their children over the Christmas period
- The Food Foundation and Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) who run food clubs for people on low incomes, surveyed over 9,000 food club members, with analysis conducted by the University of Sheffield
- Three quarters (75 per cent) of respondents with children are worried about having to choose between buying food or presents for children over Christmas because they cannot afford them
More than 60 per cent of people using food hubs are worried about being able to afford enough food to feed themselves or their children over the Christmas period, a new survey has found.
The Food Foundation, an independent charity and The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT), who run food clubs for people on low incomes, surveyed over 9,000 users, with analysis conducted by Dr Megan Blake from the University of Sheffield.
The survey shows that:
- 66 per cent of respondents using the food hubs are worried about being able to afford enough food to feed themselves or their children over the Christmas period.
- Three quarters (75 per cent) of respondents with children are worried about having to choose between buying food or presents for children over Christmas because they cannot afford them.
- This rises to 83 per cent for parents living in local authority or housing association housing
Those relying on TBBT's food clubs are living on a knife edge, with half of all respondents saying their household has less than £50 to get them through the month after they have paid for housing and electricity. Three out of every four (76 per cent) said they could not afford an unexpected but necessary expense of £100 without borrowing, and 32 per cent say they could not afford an unexpected but necessary payment of £20 without borrowing. More than half of all households with children said they had to borrow or use more credit compared to last year.
More than half of all respondents live in a household with income from employment,
demonstrating that even those in work will find times tough over Christmas. Most respondents with household incomes that include employment earnings said their households are still struggling to have enough money for the basic things they need to be able to live.
For example, 59 per cent of households with some income from employment have less than £100 to get them through the month after housing costs and energy bills are paid. The survey showed that of TBBT's members, those with children are more likely to be earning, and yet of these nearly one in ten say they do not even break even after paying for their housing and energy bills.
The Food Foundation is calling on the government to include a requirement that the cost of eating healthily and sustainably be taken into account when setting benefits levels and the minimum wage to ensure that everyone can afford a decent diet.
Dr Megan Blake from the University of Sheffield's Institute for Sustainable Food, said: "Many of these parents will have to choose between meals and providing for their children this Christmas.
"This will mean many will go hungry to ensure their children can eat or that they have a gift. The sad truth is that Christmas will be largely absent in many communities because so many people are just not getting by."
Shona Goudie, Policy and Advocacy Manager at The Food Foundation, said: "Despite inflation falling in recent months, the Food Foundation's research tracking the cost of a weekly shop indicates that food prices remain worryingly high, leaving people struggling to afford the food they need.
"Our Food Insecurity Tracker has shown food insecurity levels have remained high in 2023, impacting approximately one in five households.
"The survey of The Bread and Butter Thing members shows that, while Christmas is a time of celebration for some, others are feeling a huge amount of anxiety around being able to provide for their families.
"As we enter a new year, urgent Government intervention is essential to tackle unacceptably high levels of food insecurity, guaranteeing everyone has sufficient income to have peace of mind that they can feed their children all year round."
Mark Game, CEO, The Bread and Butter Thing, said: "Christmas is always such a stressful time of year for our communities where families are already stretched, struggling and juggling multiple priorities, caring responsibilities, low-paid work or illness, combined with the increased costs of childcare, travel and energy. These are people who have a lot on their plate. And our job is to make life easier for them.
"We know that our food service is a vital resource for them, which is why we're there week in, week out, 52 weeks of the year. The cost-of-living crisis continues to drive footfall, with more people than ever signing up to use our affordable foodservice this winter and many of our 120 hubs over-subscribed."
TBBT's food club members have signed up to have access to low cost weekly shopping bags made up of a selection of surplus food from high street supermarkets, food manufacturers and farmers.
Shireen Hussein, TBBT member and mum of two said: "I have always enjoyed Christmas; it's always been one of my favourite times of year - until this year! This year, money is tighter than ever. My electric bill is sky high. Despite the house being cold, the gas bill is extortionate.
"I'm having to find money from nowhere to get to my hospital appointments. As a parent to children with additional needs who are in specialist education, another thing that costs a fortune is travelling to their schools (which are miles away) to watch school shows.
"Yesterday I paid £20 in taxis to get my daughter to her school performance. Her class sang two songs. I loved every second of it, but £20 is a huge amount of money for many families, especially this time of year. I am unwell with my health at the minute and the stress of making sure my children have something under the tree this year and a decent meal is making concentrating on getting better difficult.
"I'm wondering if this year will be the first year I couldn't get my children what they wanted for Christmas. It's heartbreaking, not just for me, but there are so many families in the same position and it's the children who suffer in the end."
The Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield finds dynamic solutions to the challenges of food security and sustainability. Our innovative research draws on the fields of science, engineering, social sciences, and arts and humanities.
