Campaigns: Westminster and Stormont Visits

In November, representatives from the Foyle Network Foundation attended lobbying events in Westminster and Stormont alongside our colleagues from the Trussell Trust.

At Westminster, we discussed how we can end the need for food banks with Foyle MP Colum Eastwood and fellow NI MP Claire Hanna. They were shocked to learn that over 90,300 food parcels were issued by Trussell food banks in NI over the 2023/2024 period. While food bank usage has decreased slightly across the UK, it has actually increased in the Foyle constituency. 

Later that week, our representatives attended the launch of Trussell’s “Building Blocks for a Brighter Future” Report in Stormont. This report makes succinct policy recommendations to bring people out of poverty. We were extremely proud of our Policy Advocate, Sinead who talked about the importance of listening to those with lived experience.

As she said, "There is nothing about us, without us!"

Her speech was then echoed by Sian Mulholland, Alliance MLA, during discussions in Stormont the following week.

Foodbank usage in NI has risen 93% over the last 5 years. We will continue to campaign for urgent action to end hunger now.