- Published
The manager of a food bank in County Fermanagh has said they have enough money for "two months of running costs" before they run out, while another one in West Belfast, has had to "significantly reduce" the sizes of their parcels.
asserted
one → publish → parcels
According to the Trussell Trust, an anti-poverty charity, some food banks are having pay for 30-50% of the food they are supplying.
uncertain
they → accord → food
Enniskillen Foodbank said their "ongoing expenses are continuing and donations are not keeping pace" with project manager Paul Dickson describing it as it a "bleak situation".
asserted
it → say → situation
Edel Diamond from South-West Belfast Foodbank on the Stewartstown Road said they are struggling with stock which is "really upsetting because you've got families coming to you that aren't really coping".
asserted
that → say → you
Enniskillen Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network which can provide support for another three months.
asserted
which → provide → months
"That isn't enough to last a year," Dickson told Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme.
asserted
Dickson → last → programme
It's brilliant to get that [support from the trust] but...we need to create network of relationships locally that help make foodbanks sustainable."
asserted
foodbanks → get → relationships
He added that he noticed a drop in donations given to supermarkets but understood that things are becoming more expensive.
"
asserted
things → add → supermarkets
Part of the Trussell ethos is that we don't believe that we should be needed, but unfortunately, we are needed at the minute and we need to be here for the people that rely on us.
asserted
that → believe → us
'We are in crisis' as parcel sizes are reduced
Edel Diamond said that while she is thankful they are not having to turn people away, it was distressing.
asserted
it → reduce → people
"It seems to me like one cost-of-living crisis is just rolling into another and it doesn't seem to have gone away," she said.
asserted
she → seem → another
She added that the rising energy costs have a knock-on effect on charities.
asserted
costs → add → charities
"We're not just a food bank, we are places of comfort for people, places where people can come and find that hope," Diamond said.
asserted
Diamond → come → hope
"We want to see the end for the need for food banks, but at this immediate time we are in crisis and we're urgently appealing for donations of food and finance.
asserted
we → want → food
Fiona Cole, from Trussell Trust in Northern Ireland said it was "heartbreaking" to see food banks in this situation, adding the stress on food bank managers and volunteers is increasing on a daily basis.
According to the Trussell Trust, 67,851 parcels were distributed in Northern Ireland, 26,459 of those given to children in 2025.
The policy and public affairs manager said in the last four to six weeks food banks have faced a crisis in terms of stock levels.
uncertain
banks → say → levels
"Our biggest fear is that our food banks are prematurely forced to drastically reduce their support, or worse, close their doors because the income they receive falls short and they can no longer afford their household essentials," Cole said.
asserted
Cole → force → essentials
She said that fewer donations could be a result of people struggling with cost of living and having to cut their own budgets.
uncertain
people → say → budgets
"Our lifelong contributors, they would give us five pounds of food or £10 of food every time they go to shop in a supermarket," Cole said.
asserted
Cole → give → supermarket
"That £10 of food is just simply not the same amount as what you would have got even six months ago."
asserted
you → get → what
She said three food banks had contacted them directly about concerns with stock and finance, and six in total had to put out emergency appeals for donations on social media.
asserted
six → say → media
She added food banks have also had to close distribution centres or reduce their hours.
asserted
banks → add → hours
Cole said there needs to be sustainable funding for food banks to operate as well as support from government and the Northern Assembly.
asserted
banks → say → government
While food banks are under pressure a Trussell Trust report found that they had been distributing fewer parcels in 2025 than the peak seen in 2023.
asserted
they → find → 2023
"Wider data suggests there has been a corresponding fall in need for food banks, not just use, external".
uncertain
data → suggest → banks
The Aporia
