Choice is continuing its long-standing partnership with a charity that currently operates 1,400 food banks across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The donation takes Choice’s overall support of Trussell to £67,500.
Choice has made a further donation to the anti-poverty organisation Trussell – previously called Trussell Trust – in a bid to tackle hunger and food poverty. The £10,000 will go to Northern Ireland-based food banks to support local individuals and families.
The money will allow for the co-ordinated delivery of food parcels to those currently experiencing financial hardship because of the price of everyday essentials, and the cost of heating their home.
A charity with a vast food bank network, Trussell works hard to tackle food insecurity by providing food and support to tens of thousands of people, while its advocacy work focuses on addressing the causes of hunger and calling for the solutions required to end the need for food emergency.
Winter is traditionally a busy period for local food banks in the Trussell community, with cold spells only adding to the challenge. Last winter, records show it distributed 600,000 food parcels in the UK – and the signs indicate 2024 will be just as high as families still struggle to afford the basics.
Aidan McCrea, Choice Housing’s Financial Inclusion Manager, said: “Choice has so far donated £67,500 to Trussell, helping it to reach some 3,552 Northern Ireland households as a direct result. The financial support from Choice helps to ensure this fantastic and, in many cases, life-changing work can continue. Our donation this year has the potential to reach 526 households facing financial hardship by allowing the supply of food parcels to those families in greatest need locally.”
He added: “Despite inflation easing somewhat in recent months, the cost of food, clothing and heating is still a real concern for many tenants which is why, as a housing association, we have a number of initiatives currently in place that are designed to target, and help, those most in need. Choice remains committed to engaging with all relevant stakeholders, including Trussell, to find solutions that tackle food poverty in Northern Ireland sustainably, and for the long-term.”
In the latest report from Trussell covering the period April 1 to September 30, 2024, almost 35,000 food parcels were distributed from 49 locations around Northern Ireland to local people facing hardship. Although the figure is down slightly on last year, Trussell says the level of need remains significantly higher than a few years ago. Meanwhile, just over 14,000 parcels were distributed in the first half of this financial year by NI-based food banks in the Trussell community for children.
Jonny Currie, the Current Network Lead in Northern Ireland for Trussell, has highlighted that donations received by Trussell are also used to help recruit additional staff and hire delivery drivers and vehicles, especially at peak times during the year such as the summer holidays and Christmas period.
Jonny said: “An increasing number of children in Northern Ireland are growing up in families facing hunger and being forced to turn to food banks to survive. A generation is growing up believing that it is normal to see a food bank in every community – this is not right.
“Rising hunger and hardship have devastating consequences for individuals and our communities, damage health and hold back our economy. People in work, as well as people who cannot work, are increasingly being pushed into debt and forced to turn to a food bank to survive.
“Choice's donation helps us to keep providing essential support until a time when we are no longer needed,” he added.
