More food banks across the UK than McDonald's restaurants
New research suggests there are now more foodbanks across the UK than McDonald's restaurants.
There are around 1,300 branches of the fast food chain nationwide - while the number of foodbanks is estimated at more than 2,000.
This stark statistic is likely to be an underestimate as the 2,000 figure does not include every type of foodbank, such as those operating in schools.
Garry Lemon, director of policy and research at foodbank charity The Trussell Trust, said: "More people than ever before are being forced to use food banks, having to turn to one of the 1,200 centres in our network, because they’re unable to afford the basics.
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"This just isn’t right. Foodbanks offer absolutely vital support, providing a lifeline for people that have been pulled under by the rising tide of poverty.
"But no one in the UK should need that help to begin with. That’s why we’re calling on the Government to start putting money back into the pockets of people who most need support.”
According to the charity, the top four reasons for using a foodbank between April and September last year were low income, benefit delay, benefit change and debt.