More people are dealing with hunger and hardship

The number of people in food poverty in Perth and Kinross remains persistently high according to the region’s food bank - who have recorded a yearly increase in those needing support.

- ALASTAIR MCNEILL

Perth and Kinross Foodbank, run by Trussell Trust, has distributed 4089 emergency parcels in the financial year 2024/25 - 100 more than the previous year.

The charity however report a dip (-10 per cent) in the total number of emergency food parcels provided across Scotland as a whole compared with the previous year.

The Trussell Trust said that almost 240,000 emergency food parcels had been provided to families with children in 2024/25 across Scotland - and it should be a "wake-up call" for the Scottish and UK governments to strengthen the social security system and re-think cuts to welfare that risk forcing more people to food banks.

The vital team behind the Trust's Perth organisation say the figures show that people are "crumbling" under the rising cost of living, stating "no-one is immune’ to financial difficulty.

Perth and Kinross Foodbank project manager Lori Hughes said: “Our food bank has distributed 4,089 emergency food parcels this year to individuals, couples and families across Perth and Kinross - that’s over 100 more than the previous year.

“We are seeing far too many people experiencing hunger and hardship in our local communities, forced to turn to us to help them through difficult days.”