ST Helens Council’s leader says it’s ‘heartbreaking’ after figures show more food parcels were handed out in St Helens this summer since at least 2018.

The Trussell Trust, which helps run more than 1,500 food banks across the UK, has described the soaring need for essentials as "extremely alarming".

Figures from the charity show 5,241 emergency food parcels were handed out between April and September across five food banks in St Helens.

The trust's figures show 1,844 of those were for children.

This is a rise from 5,085 during the same period a year before – and the highest figure since local figures were first made available in 2018.

Across the UK, a record of nearly 1.5 million parcels were distributed – 200,000 more than in the summer of 2022.

These figures cover parcels handed out by the charity itself, but do not include emergency food supplies provided by other organisations.

St Helens Council Leader, Cllr David Baines said: “It’s heartbreaking that so many families in our borough rely on emergency aid such as food parcels in this day and age to get by, which is why I have made it a priority as council leader to ensure as much support as possible is in place with the resources available to us to help those most in need during these tough times.

“Recognising the impact the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is having on many households across the borough, we have been working with a range of partners to deliver national relief schemes and ensure that local support and advice is in place and accessible.

“We created a Cost-of-Living Action Group with representatives from the council, NHS, police, housing associations, food pantries and food banks, churches, community centres, colleges, schools, and sports clubs to identify where support is needed and how we could work together to support the most vulnerable.

“We’ll continue to support residents and ensure those most in need can remain warm, safe and healthy this winter but we need central government to do more. Essential council services and other public and third sector organisations can’t run on thin air.

“That’s why I’m lobbying for fairer funding by writing to the Chancellor, setting out the challenges faced by the council in particular and to ask for urgent financial support for public services and residents still feeling the effects of the cost of living situation.

"A dedicated page is available on our website where residents can find out how to get help on a range of cost-of-living topics, including financial support, where to access food, and other vital information. visit: www.sthelens.gov.uk/sthelenstogether"

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: "An increasing number of children are growing up in families facing hunger, forced to turn to food banks to survive."

"A generation is growing up believing that it’s 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 the nation’s 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."

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: "There are 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty than in 2010, but we know some families are struggling, which is why we are providing a record support package worth £3,300 per household.

"This includes the latest cost of living payments paid directly to over eight million households this year, our decision to raise benefits by over 10 per cent earlier this year and our £2 billion Household Support Fund which is helping people to buy essentials."

They added the Government is aiming to get more people into work through investment and increasing the national living wage.