Community food support networks in the West of England are confronting an increasingly precarious future, as a significant plunge in donations coincides with the cessation of critical holiday voucher schemes for vulnerable families. Charity leaders warn that the confluence of these factors is creating an unprecedented strain, with one single father describing a summer of severe financial difficulty.
Matthew, a father of two who relies on the Millbrook Hub community larder in Castle Cary up to three times a week, articulated the immediate impact of these converging pressures. “Without it, I don’t know what I’d do. The cost of living definitely has had an impact. Half the time, I can’t afford food for myself,” he stated, highlighting the personal sacrifices made to ensure his children are fed.
The impending summer holidays present an additional challenge for Matthew and many others. Somerset Council has concluded a scheme that automatically provided supermarket vouchers to families of children receiving free school meals during holiday periods. Matthew anticipates this will force him to “stretch my budget even more this month, with great difficulty.” Unable to work currently as a full-time father to young children, he foresees potentially needing to seek financial assistance from friends to cover his children’s food costs over the next six weeks.
Donation Declines and Operational Strain
The struggles faced by families like Matthew’s are mirrored by the severe operational challenges confronting food aid organisations. Charity leaders have reported that donations to food banks and community larders have plummeted to record lows, casting an uncertain shadow over their ability to sustain services.
Matthew himself has observed a noticeable decline in donations at the Millbrook Hub larder, attributing it to the pervasive cost of living crisis affecting everyone. Mark Hutton, who helps manage the Millbrook Hub, corroborated this trend, citing a combination of factors including reduced availability of some items from supermarkets and the broader economic pressure on individuals “trying to save money.”
The Trussell Trust, a prominent food bank charity, provides stark data illustrating the deepening crisis. Its North Bristol and South Gloucestershire branch has been compelled to purchase a record amount of its own stock. In 2025, one in every four of the 15,045 items distributed by the branch was purchased, rather than donated. Ellen Wood, CEO of the branch, noted that “everyone was ‘feeling the pinch’,” and that the organisation had witnessed people struggling “year after year” despite “so much generosity” from the community. Wood further elaborated that the volume of public donations received via supermarket collection points had also significantly decreased.
The sustainability of this model is now under serious question. “If this trend keeps happening one or two years down the line, I don’t know,” Wood cautioned. “We can’t keep buying food [and] if people can’t afford to donate the food then we’ll struggle.” This sentiment was echoed by Loki Stokes, the food bank’s food logistics manager, who remarked, “I have never seen our stock this low.” Stokes added that while the organisation typically aims to maintain a week’s buffer across its nine outlets, achieving this target “this summer that’s getting hard to promise.”
Council Response and Alternative Support
In response to the evolving landscape of support, Somerset Council acknowledged the persistent financial pressures on many households due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, anticipating these pressures will intensify during the summer holidays. The council clarified that while the previous Household Support Fund concluded in April, food vouchers remain accessible through the Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaced it.
A spokesperson for Somerset Council stated that the three years of government funding provided through the Crisis and Resilience Fund enables the authority to “build on our strong partnerships with organisations across Somerset, helping to ensure that residents who need support can access it close to where they live.”
Despite the availability of alternative funds, the immediate challenge for individuals like Matthew remains acute. He primarily uses the community larder for essential non-food items such as nappies, toilet roll, and shampoo, dedicating all his available cash to purchasing food specifically for his children. The combined effect of dwindling donations and the shift in support mechanisms underscores a critical period for both families in need and the charitable organisations striving to assist them.
