A food bank in Rutland is now needed by over 300 people across the county
The Trussell Trust estimates that more than 800,000 people in the East Midlands faced hunger in the past year due to lack of money
A Rutland food bank are telling us the main people they see struggling with the cost of food is single adults.
It comes as new research from the Trussell Trust has found that a third of people using food banks are from working households.
This is including 230,000 children.
We're concerned that there are people who don't realise that they could benefit from the support of a foodbank
The charity’s report also reveals that paid work is no longer enough to prevent people from needing a food bank.
Over one in five people referred to food banks in the Trussell community in the East Midlands were part of a household where someone is in work.
People in manual and service roles – such as bus drivers and care workers – are among the working people most likely to face hunger, despite having a job.
Trussell found that very low incomes are the main driver of growing hunger and food bank need.
Ali Wainwright, from the Rutland Food Bank, said:
"It's very difficult."
"Food inflation is running higher than the average inflation so even if you're getting income in it's not going as far in feeding people."
"We had a lady the other day who's been relocated through domestic abuse so not only has she lost her home but she's in a situation now where she's having to rebuild her life."
"We're concerned that there are people who don't realise that they could benefit from the support of a foodbank."
"We know that some people feel that they shouldn't need it or feel embarrassed but actually we'd much rather people weren't struggling."
We know that some people feel that they shouldn't need it
The survey of people referred to food banks also revealed that, across the UK, families at food banks are left with just £104 a week after housing costs to cover all living expenses including food, utility bills, travel for work or school, and essential toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste.
This is just 17% of what the average UK household has left after rent or mortgage payments, laying bare the harsh reality faced by too many people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Trussell finds that millions of people are facing hunger without reaching out to charitable food providers, revealing how hunger is becoming increasingly normalised in communities across the UK.
Research among the general population in the UK shows that 61% of households who were going without food, did not access any form of charitable food support in the past year.
55% didn't feel like they should because they did not feel they were facing financial hardship, a third that they did not think they were in enough need, and just under a quarter because they thought other people were in greater need than them.