Rise in number of people facing hunger in the UK

A third of children under five are living in UK homes where this is not enough access to healthy and nutritious food, according to anti-poverty charity Trussell Trust.

Surveys by the charity found more than 14 million people in the UK faced the prospect of going hungry last year due to the lack of money.

This marks an increase from the trust's last survey in 2022 when that number was 11.6 million people.

This Government said it is "determined to tackle the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence".

Other findings from the survey of those accessing food banks included an increase in the number of people from working households - up from a quarter of households in 2022 to a third in 2024.

Those in manual and service jobs were the worst affected, with care workers and bus drivers highlighted as some of the working people most at risk of going hungry.

Trussell Trust said low incomes were the main cause of hungry households in the UK.

The survey of people referred to food banks revealed that households who accessed them would be left with an average of £104 a week to pay for food, bills, work or school travel and essential toiletries.

This worked out to 17% of what the average UK household would have left after rent or mortgage payments.