COLCHESTER Foodbank has been named one of the busiest in the east of England.

The Trussell Trust, which manages foodbanks up and down the country, has released end of year figures for 2022-23, outlining the number of emergency food parcels foodbanks have provided to people. 

The statistics cover the full financial year from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023.

In Colchester, a total of 21,285 parcels were distributed, 12,122 for adults and 9,163 for children.

Gazette:

This was up from 14,923 in 2021-22, an increase of 42.6 per cent.

The total was the second highest in the east of England, behind Bedford on 21,835.

Since the 2017-2018 financial year when 6,327 parcels were given out, foodbank usage in Colchester has increased by 293.9 per cent.

In Tendring, the total number of food parcels sent out from its two distribution centres was up 46.8 per cent, from 2,562 to 3,762.

There were 2,379 sent to adults and 1,383 to children in the last year.

Close to three million emergency food parcels were distributed by food banks in the Trussell Trust network in the past 12 months — the most parcels ever distributed by the network in a year.

More than one million of these parcels were distributed for children.

Mike Beckett, of Colchester Foodbank, said: “The foodbank has experienced unprecedented demand year on year.

“We have been busier than ever, our army of 300 volunteers are working tirelessly.

“Being so high up on the list for the east of England is definitely a title we’d be willing to shake and not one we aspired for.”

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Mr Beckett also outlined what the foodbank urgently needs.

He said: “We are appreciative of people who donate money or food at the checkout if they can afford to do so.

“It’s the heroes of Colchester who help us do what we do to feed so many people and stopping children from suffering is our main priority.

“We’ve got lists on our website and social media, but things like jars of jam, rice pudding, tinned custard, small bags of rice and tinned potatoes are what we really need.

“As well as things like tea, tinned fruit, long-life milk and juice, and squash.”