A decade of Tory austerity has devastated our country and the consequences for the poorest in society have been horrific. Since the Tories took over this country, food bank usage has skyrocketed. In 2010, the Trussell Trust reported that around 60,000 people in the UK had to use foodbanks. By 2019, this had shot up to an astonishing 1.9 million.

Rishi Sunak, in his spending review, casually announced that unemployment is predicted to rise to 7.5% as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. This means even more families will be plunged into debt and poverty in the coming months.

We want to ensure that everything possible is done to ease the burden that families are facing this Christmas. We can make a huge impact to ensure that children will not be hungry and where their parents are struggling, they will at least be able to enjoy opening a present.

That is why we are launching The People’s Assembly Big Christmas Foodbank Fundraiser.  Please give as much as you can afford to ensure that we can have the maximum impact in helping make this Christmas a special time for as many people as possible this year.