The UK’s largest independent road safety charity with a network of around 180 local groups and 77,000 members, IAM RoadSmart is calling on their community of members and volunteers to join the fight against food poverty, as government figures show 4.2 million people in the UK were living in food poverty in 2020-21, which includes 9 per cent of all children.
With the cost-of-living crisis, IAM RoadSmart has been looking at ways in which its community can help support the most vulnerable in society. Organisations like The Trussell Trust, set up to support a nationwide network of food banks that provide emergency food and support to people locked in poverty, reported that 320,000 people have been forced to turn to food banks in the last six months – that’s a third more than during the same period in 2021, and an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Supporting a local food bank will help one in seven1 people across the UK (14 per cent) who are currently skipping meals or going without food because they can’t afford the essentials, and the same report found over two-fifths (44 per cent) are having to cut back on food spending.
Antony Kildare, Chief Executive at IAM RoadSmart, said: “December is typically one of the busiest periods for food banks, and this year the demand has been higher than ever. With everyday essentials costing so much more than before, we’re choosing to support our local communities across the UK to make a difference to individuals this Christmas.
“We’re encouraging our staff, members, and volunteers to make a small donation to their local food bank to support someone struggling this winter. Whether it’s a selection box for children, toiletries, baby snacks or cupboard essentials – it’s a small way to help give something to those in need.”
