– Birmingham and Bristol have some of the highest numbers of searches
– All major cities show at least several hundred food bank searches each month
– Online search trends show that searching for help is rising ahead of Xmas
New data analysis from children’s residential care provider, Forge Care, has shown that each month thousands of online searches are being done by UK residents looking to find their nearest food bank. The organisation’s research has also revealed that all of the country’s major cities, and most of our large towns, are seeing hundreds of location-based food bank searches on a monthly basis. Moreover, by reviewing Google’s data around the term ‘food bank’, Forge Care has seen that the searches for this have been steadily trending upwards as we head towards Christmas, mirroring what happened this time last year.
The 10 locations with the highest search were:
– All major cities show at least several hundred food bank searches each month
– Online search trends show that searching for help is rising ahead of Xmas
New data analysis from children’s residential care provider, Forge Care, has shown that each month thousands of online searches are being done by UK residents looking to find their nearest food bank. The organisation’s research has also revealed that all of the country’s major cities, and most of our large towns, are seeing hundreds of location-based food bank searches on a monthly basis. Moreover, by reviewing Google’s data around the term ‘food bank’, Forge Care has seen that the searches for this have been steadily trending upwards as we head towards Christmas, mirroring what happened this time last year.
The 10 locations with the highest search were:
- Birmingham – 1,300 monthly searches
- Bristol – 1,300 monthly searches
- Coventry – 1,300 monthly searches
- Edinburgh – 1,300 monthly searches
- Glasgow – 1,300 monthly searches
- Leeds – 1,300 monthly searches
- London – 1,300 monthly searches
- Cardiff – 1,000 monthly searches
- Colchester- 1,000 monthly searches
- Leicester – 1,000 monthly searches
The troubling figures demonstrate widespread social issues that are reaching all areas in the UK, with more and more households struggling to put food on the table. However, with the increasing amount of searches, it also suggests financial problems, potentially stemming from the fact we are getting closer to Christmas – one of the most expensive times of the year.
The recent significant rises to the cost of living, as well as the unprecedented increases in our energy bills in the recent months could also be key factors. Sadly, it may be the case for many homes to choose between food, money for Christmas or turning on the heating. But with this search data it does suggest food is what is being sacrificed.
Dave Hughes, child social care expert at Forge Care commented saying “The current independent review of children’s social care recognises within the case for change that deprivation is a contributory factor for children to experience significant inequalities in which families can be involved with children’s social care.
The report also indicates that social determinants or socio-economic factors – like income, education, housing, and employment, as well as “psychosocial” factors such as stress – impact mental health and make effective parenting more challenging.
The emotional impact of poverty can also result in families being less resilient in responding to struggles, managing, and overcoming complexity. Currently in England one in three children in families with a child under five years old live-in poverty. This has a detrimental impact on children’s overall development and wellbeing. Locality factors such as deprivation, income equality and demand for services, which have also experienced austerity measures reductions in funding and restricted allocation of resources are also considered to have causal association with children needing social care interventions.
These disparities in the lives of our children have a real impact on families. Evidence suggests significant impact of deprivation is a contributory causal factor in child abuse and neglect.
Following the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in lockdowns where safeguarding concerns for children may have gone undetected or have become worrying because education and social care settings were forced to close or provide services by different means coupled with the further associated economic impact compounding existing inequalities – we’re are not seeing child welfare inequality decreasing.
The recent significant rises to the cost of living, as well as the unprecedented increases in our energy bills in the recent months could also be key factors. Sadly, it may be the case for many homes to choose between food, money for Christmas or turning on the heating. But with this search data it does suggest food is what is being sacrificed.
Dave Hughes, child social care expert at Forge Care commented saying “The current independent review of children’s social care recognises within the case for change that deprivation is a contributory factor for children to experience significant inequalities in which families can be involved with children’s social care.
The report also indicates that social determinants or socio-economic factors – like income, education, housing, and employment, as well as “psychosocial” factors such as stress – impact mental health and make effective parenting more challenging.
The emotional impact of poverty can also result in families being less resilient in responding to struggles, managing, and overcoming complexity. Currently in England one in three children in families with a child under five years old live-in poverty. This has a detrimental impact on children’s overall development and wellbeing. Locality factors such as deprivation, income equality and demand for services, which have also experienced austerity measures reductions in funding and restricted allocation of resources are also considered to have causal association with children needing social care interventions.
These disparities in the lives of our children have a real impact on families. Evidence suggests significant impact of deprivation is a contributory causal factor in child abuse and neglect.
Following the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in lockdowns where safeguarding concerns for children may have gone undetected or have become worrying because education and social care settings were forced to close or provide services by different means coupled with the further associated economic impact compounding existing inequalities – we’re are not seeing child welfare inequality decreasing.