ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the emergence and continued growth of foodbanks from a critical social work perspective. It focuses on the work of The Trussell Trust, however both The Salvation Army and The Red Cross also contribute significantly to the emergency food sector in the UK. Foodbanks and food poverty have become such commonly used terms over the past decade in the UK that they no longer require definition when reported by the mainstream media. The Welfare Reform Act was introduced by the UK coalition government and brought with it several changes to the welfare system. As foodbanks became more established, government’s response, particularly to The Trussell Trust, provides further evidence for a Council on Social Work Education interpretation. The Trussell Trust collects demographic information about their foodbank users including age, household members and reason that the food parcel is required. The chapter concludes by proposing the wider adoption of a poverty aware paradigm of practice.
