There has been a sharp rise in the need for winter food parcelsVolunteers Peter Selek and Stephen Clark filling bags with food(Image: David Betts Photography)

Food banks in Bristol are bracing for a surge in demand with thousands of families expected to come through their doors this Christmas. That is the stark message from the Trussell Trust, which reveals there has been a sharp rise in the need for winter food parcels compared to five years ago.

The charity predicts its food banks in the region will provide tens of thousands of emergency parcels over the coldest months this year, as the rising costs of essentials – like food, electricity and rent – push more families to the brink.

Almost 67,000 emergency food parcels were distributed last winter between December 2024 and February 2025 to people across the South West, a 46% increase compared to pre Covid-pandemic levels five years ago. More than 24,000 emergency food parcels were provided for children across the region last winter, 34% higher than the same period five years ago.

There has been an alarming increase in the support provided for people aged 65 and over. Last winter, people aged 65 and over received almost 2,000 food parcels – more than triple (+211% higher) the level of support compared to the same period five years ago.

Last winter alone, food banks in the South West spent an estimated £195,000 on food as donations struggled to keep up with high levels of need across the region.

Emma Murray, manager at Bristol North West Foodbank, said: “Winter is the busiest time of the year for us at Bristol North West Foodbank. People coming to our food bank are telling us how the winter months fill them with dread as families are forced to make impossible choices between eating or heating their homes.

“When people can’t afford the essentials, food banks need to be there to support them. But with donations struggling to keep pace with high levels of need, food banks need your help now more than ever.”

Looking at the weeks ahead as Christmas approaches, the food bank’s community organiser Eleni Morus said: “Food bank need in North West Bristol has been climbing year on year since before the pandemic. In the weeks before Christmas, numbers at the food bank double.

“We have potentially seen that starting early this week, with the number of requests for emergency food support from our Avonmouth food bank doubling just on Monday morning. In anticipation of a busy Christmas period, we have applied for grants to be able to increase the number of Christmas hampers to give out to local families from 200 to 250.

“The lead up to Christmas is always a busy time for the food bank as we see people come in struggling with multiple pressures on their finances, the most common and broad issue is the cost of energy bills.

“In Bristol in particular, the quality and cost of housing is a significant issue, many people coming to the food bank experience damp and mould, exacerbated by the cold wet weather, while others must deal with sky high rents and poor energy efficiency. Due to these factors and more food bank need, demand in Bristol has increased 93% in the past 5 years, over twice as much as the rest of the South West.”

Across the UK last year, just over 6,600 families visited a Trussell food bank for the first time. As Britain heads into the festive season, Trussell estimates that once again tens of thousands of families will need to turn to a food bank for the first time across the UK.

Nationally over half (58%) of Trussell’s community of food banks across the UK say that preparing for this winter feels harder than ever, as levels of need continue to outpace donations. Many food banks say they are at breaking point and having to purchase significant amounts of food just to keep up.