The Trussell Trust have recently released a report detailing their latest and most in-depth study to date on hunger, revealing its causes, impacts and who is affected.
We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and yet one in seven people face hunger across the UK due to a lack of money.
Certain groups, such as disabled people, carers, families with children, and people going through an adverse life experience such as a bereavement or domestic abuse, are more likely to face hunger.
Our social security system is the driving factor in pushing people towards hunger. The research finds that this system we expect to support us in hard times, which includes Universal Credit, is failing to protect so many of us due to how it’s designed and delivered.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
That’s why the Trussell Trust are calling on the UK government, alongside the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, to guarantee our essentials and ensure that the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers our core costs, such as food and bills.
You can find out more about the Essentials Guarantee here:
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/campaigns/guarantee-our-essentials/
To read more about the research, why not visit the Trussell Trust’s website here:
https://www.trusselltrust.org/what-we-do/research-advocacy/hunger-in-the-uk/