"What is driving food bank use in the UK? Answering this research question is something of a challenge. There is no official data on food bank use – although the Trussell Trust does collect data on the numbers using their network, alongside reasons for referral – and no systematic evidence base telling us why people are referred for support.
As a result, the question has, to date, been characterised far more by heat than light. Ministers claim that rising food bank use is simply a reflection of the increased supply of food aid; others see it as an indicator of the negative effects of ‘welfare reform’, or point to lower disposable incomes and increased food prices. Stepping into the breach recently was a new report which sought to add to this limited body of knowledge."