Thousands of young people in area ‘struggling to afford food’

Newly released figures from food banks in the Trussell community show 17,000 food parcels were provided to 17–24-year-olds across Yorkshire last year, more than double (111% increase) than the number in 2019 – 8,000.

Anti-poverty charity Trussell commissioned a survey of over 4,500 young people aged 16-25 across the UK, revealing that young people are cutting back on food, skipping meals and going without essentials – to keep up with everyday costs.

29% of young people in Yorkshire said they had cut back on food so they could afford other essentials in the last three months.

The research also finds that 16% of young people have skipped meals to afford to travel to work or school in the last three months.

Meanwhile, 13% of young people reported going without essential toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste or sanitary products over the past three months so they could afford food or utilities.

Tom Weekes, head of research at Trussell, said: “Young adulthood should be about building independence and laying foundations for the future – not wondering how you’re going to put food on the table. But as young people grapple with a lack of job opportunities, sky-high rents and gaps in support, this has become the reality for far too many young people today.

“It's clear that a lack of investment in young people across Yorkshire & Humberside and the UK is having dire consequences. We need the UK government to act, and quickly, or risk seeing a generation of young people being forced to food banks.

“The UK government must recommit to its manifesto pledge of ending the need for emergency food – because it’s not right that anyone should have to turn to charity to survive.

“To meet that ambition, our new Prime Minister should invest in employment support and training, protect social security for under-25s, and improve housing support to give every young person today a fair start in life.”