A Blackburn foodbank is calling on the government to deliver as those using the service have reached a record high.

Blackburn’s Trussel Trust has seen more people turn to the foodbank for support due to not having the funds to cover the essentials.

In 2024 Blackburn Foodbank supported over 19,000 residents of Blackburn with Darwen and over 7,000 of these were children.

Labour has committed to ending the need for emergency food, announcing measures around improving worker’s rights and strengthening support for renters.

Manager of Blackburn Foodbank, Gill Fourie said: “The Government has committed to end the need for emergency food. It is within their power to change this, but only by taking urgent action and implementing a long-term strategy to address hardship.

“We know that people face another difficult winter ahead of them. People cannot afford to wait for an economic turnaround before they see the promise of change being delivered.”

Gill alongside the rest of the Trussel Trust welcomed the extension of the Household Support Fund, which has been a lifelong for local authorities to provide vital crisis support.

However, they have said that the time for temporary measures is over and that the new government must use the time allowed to develop a long-term strategy.

She also insists that providing a minimum floor in Universal Credit to protect people from debt deductions is essential.

A final measure the Trussell Trust suggest it that local housing authorities keep up with rising rents to ensure housing is affordable, with homelessness at threat of spirling if people are forced between paying their rent or buying food.

Gill added: “Collectively, these measures would have a considerable impact on people who are struggling to make ends meet and would show the Government's commitment to addressing the challenges facing communities across the UK.

“Working on the front line, I have seen how hard things have got for many people in Blackburn with Darwen over the last five years and it cannot continue like this.

“That is why I am calling on our new Government to act now and bring about the change that they promised on the campaign trail.”

Between April 2023 and March 2024, food banks in the Trussel network distributed over 3 million emergency food parcels, the most ever seen in a single year and double that provided five years ago.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have been contacted for comment.