Newquay Foodbank boss warns of a "perfect storm" as winter demand set to rise
New research shows more than 400,000 people across the South West could need a food bank within the next year.
Newquay Foodbank is bracing for a difficult winter, as new research reveals the scale of food poverty across the South West.
Anti-poverty charity Trussell says 410,000 people in the region are at risk of needing to use a food bank in 2026/27.
That's an increase of 55,000 people since 2024/25, according to analysis carried out for the charity by WPI Economics.
The figures come alongside a separate survey, conducted by Ipsos on Trussell's behalf, which found one in eight people (12%) in the South West said their household had run out of food in the past year and couldn't afford to buy more.
The charity says disabled people and families with children are more likely than others to be going without - although they also see working families coming in.
Around one in 12 people (7%) in the south west say they've had to cut back on food in the past three months in order to afford other essentials, such as housing costs, transport or heating.
"We're really worried about winter"
Zoe Nixon, who is chief executive of Newquay Food Bank, said the service has already seen demand climb sharply this year.
"We've already provided 3,173 parcels in the first six months of operation this year," she said.
"We know last year we had a 25% increase over the winter, so we're expecting somewhere in the region of about 5,000 parcels over the next few months that we'll be handing out in the Newquay area."
Ms Nixon said a combination of factors makes Cornwall particularly exposed heading into the colder months.
"In Cornwall, we have a bit of a perfect storm," she said.
"We have some of the highest rents in the country. We have seasonal work that comes to an end around half term October, half term time, everybody's putting their heating on, the energy use is going to increase. And of course, with that we've got the increases that have been announced.
"Everything in Cornwall is much more expensive, so our water rates are some of the highest in the country and the backdrop is some of the lowest wages."
She said the rising cost of running the food bank itself is also a growing worry.
"We're really worried about winter," Nixon said.
"We are doing everything we can to support people in our communities as the colder months close in. But the rising cost of food and energy will make it even harder for us to keep services running. Keeping the lights on and spaces open costs money, which is why any support you can give, whether that's donating food or funds, will make a real difference."
Ms Nixon said it's "not right" that anyone in the south west doesn't have enough money to live on, adding that staff and volunteers provide a "lifeline" through emergency food parcels and practical support every week.
Calls for action ahead of the Budget
The 2026 budget announcement will be announced next week, on Wednesday, October 28.
Trussell's director of policy and research, Helen Barnard, said people "just a few streets over" from many of us are going without heating and food in order to get by.
"Every day, people pull together across communities to make a difference, donating and getting emergency food to neighbours and providing advice and support so that people don't need to turn to a food bank in the future," Barnard said.
"But together we can and must go further, particularly as prices rise once more."
Ms Barnard said the charity wants the Prime Minister to renew Labour's manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food, and to make tackling food bank use a "measurable goal" for the Government's plan to raise living standards.