Growing numbers of working families turning to food banks.

New analysis has found nearly one million people face hunger across Scotland, with growing numbers of working families turning to food banks. 

Trussell’s analysis reveals that across Scotland in 2024, a million people, including 210,000 children, faced hunger in the previous year due to a lack of money. That’s more than the combined populations of Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen.

The charity’s landmark ‘Hunger in Scotland’ report also reveals the growing reality that paid work is no longer enough to prevent people from needing a food bank. 

A survey conducted among people referred to food banks in the Trussell community in Scotland found that nearly a quarter (24%) of people are part of a household where someone is in work – an increase since 2022 (17%). 

People in manual and service jobs – such as factory workers, bus drivers and hospitality staff – are among the working people most likely to face hunger, despite having a job.

Alarmingly, the survey, conducted by Ipsos, also reveals that one in four (25%) children across Scotland live in food insecure households.

Trussell finds that very low incomes are the main driver of growing hunger and food bank need in Scotland. Overwhelmingly, this is caused by flaws in the design and delivery of the social security system, compounded by too many jobs being inaccessible, insecure and not paying enough to cover essential living costs.

Brian Cox, Scottish actor and Trussell supporter, said: “From my own experience, I know the harsh reality of growing up in poverty and the lasting impact it has. The constant worry of how to put food on the table is a feeling that never leaves you. No child should have to know what a food bank is, let alone need one.

“When 24% of people referred to food banks in the Trussell community in Scotland are part of a household where someone is in work, it's clear that paid work isn’t enough to protect people from hardship. The UK Government must scrap the two-child limit to ensure children have the best start in life. Because no child should be held back by hunger.”

The survey of people referred to food banks revealed that people at food banks in Scotland are being left with just £148 a week after housing costs – to cover essentials like food, utility bills, travel for work or school, and toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste. That’s just a quarter (23%) of what the average household in Scotland has left after rent or mortgage.

Too often, social security isn’t providing the protection people need when work doesn’t pay – the majority (71%) of people in working households in Scotland who have needed to turn to food banks are also eligible to receive Universal Credit to top up their income.

Trussell also finds that thousands of people are facing hunger without reaching out to charitable food providers, revealing how hunger is becoming increasingly normalised in communities across Scotland. 

Research among the general population in Scotland shows that over two-thirds (67%) of households facing hunger did not access any form of charitable food provision in the past year, usually because they didn't feel like they should. 

The most common reason, given by almost half (48%) of people is that they did not use these services because they did not feel they were facing financial hardship, while a third (32%) said this was because they thought other people might need it more.

But when people’s incomes are so low, the research shows that even a small change in household circumstance – such as a car breaking down, a bus route being cut or an unexpected bill – can be the tipping point that leaves them with no option but to turn to a food bank. 

This comes at a time when food banks are already under enormous pressure and many are struggling to meet extremely high levels of need, with 239,503 parcels provided by food banks in the Trussell community across Scotland in the past year alone.

Michaela Taylor, former hospitality worker from East Lothian, said: “When my relationship ended, it was a really dark period in my life. I worked in hospitality for 25 years, but when I became a single parent, I had to leave my job too, because I couldn’t find childcare which covered my shift patterns. I went from a household with two full time incomes, to none at all. 

“The benefits system was really difficult for me to navigate - so for nine months I had absolutely no income at all. I had to choose between putting money on the meter or skipping meals myself so I could feed my daughters. Nobody should have to make that decision.”

Despite the Scottish Government’s commitments to end the need for food banks and eradicate child poverty, and the UK government’s manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food, there has been little progress on reducing hunger and hardship, the charity says. 

The lack of improvement from 2022 provides further evidence of hardship becoming more normalised in communities across Scotland.

Trussell says urgent action is needed to deliver a tangible reduction in food bank need, and that next year’s elections are an opportunity to call on politicians to ensure that everyone has enough money to afford the essentials like food, bills and toiletries. The charity is calling for urgent action by the Scottish government by the end of this parliament to reduce hunger and hardship, including following through on commitments to fully mitigate the two-child limit 

They also want to see an increase to the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week,the provision of a grant to mitigate against the five-week wait for Universal Credit, better support for disabled people to get into, and stay in, work, and increased funding for the Scottish Welfare Fund, using the Barnett consequentials from the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.

Trussell says the UK government must also make sure that there is a reduction in hunger, and that children across Scotland have the best start in life.

Cara Hilton, senior policy manager for Trussell in Scotland, said: “Hunger and hardship are increasingly seen as a normal part of everyday life in Scotland, with working people and families with children being hit particularly hard.

“We need to see urgent change, now. Our country should not be seeing one in four (25%) families with children in food insecure households.

“This is not an inevitable trend, but the result of systems that urgently need updating – particularly our social security system. It isn't right that so many Scots from all walks of life – including pensioners, disabled people, working families, and carers – are struggling to make ends meet.

“Nobody in Scotland should face hunger. Both the Scottish and UK governments need to keep their word and ensure every child has the best possible start in life and that everyone has the dignity of being able to put food on the table. We need urgent action on hunger and hardship, or this government risks seeing more people having to turn to food banks on their watch. This research is the benchmark against which they will be judged.”

Crystal Clayton, project manager at Renfrewshire Foodbank, added: "After reading the report I am shocked and stunned that the number of people that fall below is the poverty line in our country. This is not good enough, hunger should never be normalised because people can not afford the essentials. In Renfrewshire we have seen the number of referrals have go up and up, year on year. This is 2025 foodbanks should not should not be in existence, we need to see a systematic change that will allow everyone to afford to food and other essentials, not having to turn to a foodbank.

“As rents go up, bills go up, and the cost of food goes up, incomes aren’t going up and this means we’re seeing more people in work coming through our doors. It feels like there is no way out of poverty for some people, and we need the government to take action now.”