Peterborough foodbank sees people 'in tears' over cost of living
A report has found failing to tackle hunger has cost the government more than £75 billion a year
Last updated 4th May 2025
A foodbank in Peterborough said it is seeing people "in tears" trying to deal with the cost of living.
Figures from anti-poverty charity Trussell show not tackling things like hunger and hardship is costing the UK government more than £75 billion a year on public spending.
The charity wants the government to take action to alleviate pressure on stretched public services and lift millions of people out of hunger.
'They are in tears'
"I see people, and they are in tears," Sally Williams, from Bretton Foodbank, said.
"If you're a parent with children and you have to explain to them why there isn't enough food on the table, it's tragic.
"Currently, universal credit is way below realistic everyday costs such as food, bills and travel to work.
"Thinking they need to make savings across the board of the benefits system will actually cost billions in the longer term."
Extra £13.7bn a year spent due to hunger failure - Trussell
According to Trussell, failure to tackle hunger and hardship leads to the UK government spending an additional £13.7bn a year on public services like the NHS, schools and children’s social care.
The report also found the UK economy loses out on more than £38 billion each year due to reduced employment and lower productivity, because of the ways in which hunger and hardship can harm people’s chances of gaining and maintaining stable employment.
What does the government say?
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We have set out a sweeping package of reforms to health and disability benefits that genuinely supports people back into work and lifts people out of poverty.
"(This is) while putting the welfare system on a more sustainable footing so that the safety net is always there to protect those who need it most.
“Our £1bn employment support package will unlock work as part of our Plan for Change, alongside increasing the living wage, boosting benefits, and introducing a fair repayment rate to help more than a million low-income households on universal credit."