A food bank in Lowestoft has reported a substantial decrease in the number of food parcels distributed, falling from approximately 18,000 in 2023 to 5,000 in 2025. The Rob Clarke Community Trust (RCCT), which operates the food bank, attributes this reduction to its financial inclusion project.
This project, supported by Citizens Advice East Suffolk, provides an adviser who assists around 300-400 people annually with benefit checks and forms. According to Sam Porter of the RCCT, one in five individuals who receive this support no longer require food bank assistance.
The Trussell Trust confirmed that usage has also decreased at the other two food banks it supports in Suffolk, located in Haverhill and the Waveney Valley. Across all three sites, 11,779 parcels were distributed in 2025, a drop from 26,494 in 2023. So far in 2026, the figure stands at 6,099.
Despite the fall in food bank usage, the cost of living remains a challenge for many families. The RCCT also runs the Food In the School Holidays (Fish) scheme, which provides free meals. A Lowestoft restaurant, Sgt Peppers, hosted a Fish event, providing free lunches for over 40 families, with parents highlighting the ongoing struggle with high food bills during school holidays.