Our work in Northern Ireland

There are clear opportunities to realise our vision to end the need for food banks within the unique cultural, historical and political context of Northern Ireland (NI).

The rising need for food banks in Northern Ireland

There are 23 food banks in the Trussell community in NI, distributing parcels at 50 locations across all six counties. Northern Ireland is the smallest region in the Trussell community, but between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 these food banks distributed 90,375 emergency parcels, including 60,831 for children.

This represents an 11% increase from last year and a 143% increase compared to the same period five years ago. In the same period, 23,700 people in Northern Ireland were forced to turn to a food bank in the Trussell community for the first time. See our latest stats in full.

Our strategy in Northern Ireland

People need food banks when they don’t have enough income for the essentials. In Northern Ireland we’re developing a new strategy that includes offering strategic grants to food banks to support their communities and identifying millions in income for people facing financial hardship.

1. We need a long-term plan to address poverty in Northern Ireland

   Emergency food parcels and fuel payments are not enough to eradicate hunger long-term. The Northern Ireland Executive has the power to eradicate poverty and can do this through the development of a long-term strategy. The NI Executive has already agreed to this, but it still needs to be approved.

2. We must ensure that everyone can buy the food and essentials they need for themselves

   Raising income and reducing costs is always preferable to the provision of emergency food. When people in financial hardship can’t afford the essentials, they should be able to access immediate support. Cash-based approaches are preferred by families with low-incomes because of their flexibility, dignity, safety and convenience.

3. There must be support for local services to ensure people get help at the right time

   Accessing emergency food should be a last resort, yet households with low incomes often face significant barriers when trying to access support. Independent advice and other related services should be properly resourced and offered in a consistent and co-ordinated way so people can access the support they need in one place rather than being passed from one agency to the next.

4. The experience of people with lived experience of hunger and poverty should help shape the services they need

   The experiences of people affected by poverty must inform the co-design of better policy solutions. It is also important to work with food bank staff and volunteers to end the need for food banks. Food banks know and serve their communities and can support transformation to address the underlying drivers of food bank use.