OVER 6450 emergency food parcels were provided to people facing hardship between April 2024 and March 2025, with 2158 of these provided for children, according to new figures from Rhymney Valley Foodbank released today.
Rhymney Valley Foodbank has seen a 23% increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed compared to last year.
Steven Evans-Jones, Chief Officer at Rhymney Valley Foodbank said: “We’re alarmed by the 23% surge in visitor numbers to our Foodbank over the past year, with a notable rise in children seeking support.
“The cost-of-living crisis persists in North Caerphilly, severely impacting local residents. We urge the government to take heed of these concerning trends and reconsider their proposal to review social security for people with disabilities.”
Lisa, client from Rhymney said: “We were just about managing ok for a while, but the cost of living is hitting so hard. I don’t want to have to use the foodbank but I have a family to feed and am left with no other option.
“I have a health condition and am really worried about the proposed disability cuts and how much harder things might be. I’m so grateful for the foodbank, for being there when I need them and helping me get the extra support I need right now.”
Rhymney Valley Foodbank is part of the Trussell community of food banks, which has reported persistently high levels of need in the last 12 months with almost 3 million (2,885,086) emergency food parcels provided to people facing hardship across the UK between April 2024 and March 2025. More than a million of these parcels were provided for children.
Rhymney Valley Foodbank believes everybody should have enough money in their pockets to put food on the table and is calling on the community to play their part to help end the need for emergency food in the UK. Until then, the public can help make sure Rhymney Valley Foodbank continues to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice in the year ahead by donating food or funds at the Rhymney Valley Foodbank website
Emma Revie, chief executive of Trussell, said: “Far too many children, families, disabled people, working people, and elderly people from across the Caerphilly Borough needed to access food banks for emergency food in the past year.
“This should be a wake-up call to government and a stark reminder of their responsibilities to the people of the upper Rhymney Valley.
“A whole generation has now grown up in the upper Rhymney valley where sustained high levels of food bank need feels like the norm.
“The community has teachers, doctors, and healthcare professionals now routinely referring people to food banks as part of their day to day jobs, showing how emergency food has sadly become a fixture. If you can, please play your part and help change this.”
Visit the Rhymney Valley Foodbank website to find out how you can help today.
You can find out how many emergency food parcels were provided to people facing severe hardship in your local area on the Trussell website.
