Post Office has renewed its partnership with the Trussell Trust, which delivered more than £295,000 for the charity last winter.
Over the past six months, 320,000 people have been forced to turn to a food bank in the Trussell Trust network for the first time, as the charity provided a third more food parcels than in the same period in 2021.
Post Office is hoping to raise £330,000 for the charity this winter in a five-month campaign.
Customers of all high street banks can help fund the support provided by the Trussell Trust in all four nations of the UK just by withdrawing cash over the counter at a Post Office. For every cash withdrawal, Post Office will donate 1p to the Trussell Trust, at no cost to the customer.
Last year’s campaign also saw post offices across the country engage with their customers on how to help people in their communities. Many have developed links with their local food bank, with over 150 branches collecting food and household items for their local Trussell Trust food bank, delivering over two tonnes of goods this year, and many more have been working with independent food banks.
Nick Read, Chief Executive of the Post Office, said: “More and more people are choosing to use cash to help them manage their budgets this year and the cash withdrawal services at post offices, including the ability to withdraw the exact amount of cash needed, means customers of all the high street banks can help us raise money for this vital charity. With many of our branches based in convenience retailers, I’m also incredibly proud to see so many postmasters stepping up and supporting their local food banks.”
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, added: “The cost-of-living emergency has meant our food banks have experienced an alarming increase in need. In the past six months alone, our figures show almost 1.3 million emergency food parcels were provided for people across the UK experiencing hunger. That’s more than our network has ever distributed during this period.
“Our new partnership means that just by withdrawing cash at your local post office branch, you will be helping us support families who are having to make impossible decisions between heating and eating this winter, while supporting our work to end the need for food banks in the UK, for good.’’
