Vital Signs MK 2025 - Report - Page 13
Poverty & Disadvantage
Lunch Drop-In Programme
The Lunch Drop-In provides individuals with hot meals, a warm
space, and social opportunities. The simplicity and adaptability
of o昀昀erings, such as baked potatoes, allow the organisation to
cater to a wide range of cultures and needs.
The KCCC initiative has seen an increase in need:
•
2016: 30 meals served
•
2020: 7,001 meals served
•
2023: 16,395 meals served
•
By September 2024, 12,401 meals had already
been served, with the charity projecting over
18,000 by the end of the year
Overall, the demand on MK Food Bank’s services remains at
its highest ever, with 750 more people supported in 2024
than in the previous year.
In 2024, approximately 5,000 households—equating to around
12,000 individuals—relied on MK Food Bank services
in Milton Keynes, with nearly half accessing support for the
昀椀rst time. This sharp rise in demand underscores the growing
pressures faced by households across the city.
“Longer-term users of our services
are being joined by more and more
people every week. Many have
never had to ask for help before
but have found themselves unable
to make the most basic ends meet.”
Louisa Hobbs, MK Food Bank
Water Eaton Community Hub
Top-Up Shop
The Top-Up Shop allows individuals to purchase food supplies
at a subsidised rates (£2 for 10 items or £4 for 20 items). This
initiative has seen an exponential increase in demand, from
serving an average of 50 people per month in 2021 to
over 1,000 people per month today – an increase of at
least 100%.
Demographic data reveals a diverse group of service users:
56% identi昀椀ed as being from white backgrounds, while 22%
came from non-white backgrounds. Notably, 18% chose not to
declare their ethnicity, and 4% selected ‘other’. These insights
underscore the broad reach of poverty and disadvantage
in Milton Keynes, spreading across communities and
demographics.
Families with dependent children represented the largest
proportion of food parcel recipients at 46%, followed closely by
single adults at 43%, with couples without children making up
the remaining 11%.
The charity has noted individuals and families who were once
supporters of its services are now seeking help themselves.
This alarming trend highlights how widespread the cost-ofliving crisis has become.
When asked about the reasons for seeking food support, nearly
half (48%) cited the soaring cost of living as the primary reason
for needing support. Bene昀椀ts-related issues emerged as the
second most common factor, accounting for 24% of cases.
The demand for support services in Milton Keynes shows no
signs of decreasing, and organisations like KCCC are under
increasing pressure to meet these ever-growing needs of the
local community.
Other signi昀椀cant reasons included family crises, health
challenges, homelessness, and unemployment, which paints a
stark picture of the varied struggles faced by those turning to
food banks for support.
MK Food Bank
The MK Food Bank data for the year 2024 highlights important
trends in food support demand and distribution, with a shift in
service usage patterns compared to previous years.
Vital Signs MK - 12th Edition 2025
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