Laura Jarman, Bankueteer

Let’s play a game. I’ll give you a person and you say the first thing that springs to mind. Ready? Okay, let’s go…

Heavyweight wrestler

Bartender

Contemporary artist

Coder

Human rights lawyer

Food bank visitor

Surprised where your mind went?

It’s safe to say we like to put people in boxes. We can often compartmentalise the world to help us make sense of the madness… And, if we’re honest, we may make rash judgements of situations - and more importantly, of people - without stopping to consider the wider circumstances.

You may have your own mental picture of a typical person needing to access a food bank. Perhaps based on what you’ve seen in the news, heard debated in the pub or maybe off the back of the personal experiences of those you know.

Whatever your existing perceptions, with food bank usage growing at an alarming rate in the UK a typical profile of someone needing food support is difficult to define. Trussell Trust reported a 33% increase in those accessing their services last year and evidence is showing us that the use of food banks is transcending all demographics.

From Bill - a 60 year old who found himself homeless after illness led to job loss and, not long after, to separation from his wife. To Matthew - a former Special Forces soldier who had to stop work after life changing surgery but lost his disability support due to an erroneous benefits system. And Meriam - a mum seeking refuge here after fleeing domestic abuse overseas, only to find herself destitute in the UK.

Diverse need

A major study from researchers at Oxford University and King's College London has tried to get beyond the stereotypes, looking at those accessing the Trussell Trust's network of food banks in the UK. Their research defined ‘destitution’ as the consistent driver turning people to food banks. But the causes of this are diverse - from problems with the benefits system to loss of earnings or a significant negative life event, like a bereavement.

And the causes are continuing to evolve. While homeless households remain significantly overrepresented amongst food bank users, 30% of those needing support from a food bank during the pandemic were private renters. And although it could be assumed that those in work may need less support, the rising number of low-paid, insecure jobs in the UK means that more people in employment are struggling to put food on the table each week.

Jackie Beeley - the chair of Gateshead food bank and Bankuet friend - tells us:

“There’s no typical client. People come because they’ve lost their job and suddenly had to go onto benefits and don’t realise they’ve got 5 weeks wait before they get any money. People come out of the forces and don’t know where to turn. We get people who’ve gone through domestic abuse and had to flee one area and land in another. There’s a million reasons why people come.”

Cutting through the complexity

So what does that mean for you?

Well, in the face of a complex and growing food insecurity crisis, Bankuet is aiming to simplify the response. The first step being to make it easier for you to give to your local food bank. In fact, any food bank signed up to our network. Our online platform gives you the opportunity to donate funds at the click of a button, enabling food banks across the UK to access the exact supplies they need, when they need them.

We make it easier for food banks too. We make sure that food banks get the best deals from our suppliers and pool your donations together, which means for every £1 donated we deliver more than £1 worth of supplies. We call this the 'Maximiser Effect' and it means that we can get food banks more of the supplies they need for less.

Sustainable support

While adhoc donations are a tremendous support, monthly donations provide food banks with a more sustainable stream of income. Knowing what’s coming in means they can plan ahead and make informed decisions about how best to support their local communities. So if you’re looking to make a long lasting impact but not sure where to start - how about giving a monthly Bankuet bundle?

• £10 helps people out with their basic kitchen staples

• £20 is a week’s worth of meals for one person

• £50 puts a week’s worth of food on the table for a small family

• £100 gives a large family enough food to eat for a week

• £500 provides a large family with food and supplies for a month

Looking for ways to make a long lasting impact? Bankuet helps get food banks what they need, when they need it.