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A Closer Look at the Root Causes of Poverty in the UK

At the Okehampton food bank, we help individuals and families facing crisis, but we also know the need for food support doesn’t come out of nowhere. Poverty in the UK is deeply rooted in systems that don’t work for everyone.

Many people rely on food banks in the UK due to complex poverty causes, including low-paying jobs and unstable work that make it hard to cover basic living costs. The ongoing housing crisis in the UK, combined with welfare problems and Universal Credit delays, leaves many struggling to afford rent and food.

Child poverty and mental health issues are often linked to these financial stresses. Supporting food banks through donations and volunteering is vital to provide immediate relief. However, long-term solutions like fair wages and affordable housing are essential to reduce reliance on food banks and create a fairer society.

Here’s a closer look at some of the key issues pushing people toward food banks, again and again.

Low Pay and Unstable Work

Many people who come to us are employed. But insecure jobs—like zero-hour contracts or gig work—don’t guarantee regular hours or income. Even full-time jobs often don’t pay enough to cover rent, food, and bills.

A Benefits System That Falls Short

The welfare system is meant to provide support, but for many, it adds stress. Delays in Universal Credit payments, benefit cuts, and complicated rules can leave people without money when they need it most. Many feel embarrassed asking for help, even when they’re entitled to it.

Housing That’s Hard to Afford

People are often forced to choose between heating and eating. Many can’t afford nutritious food, essential medicines, or even transport to medical appointments. This daily struggle fuels stress, anxiety, and depression.

The cost of housing is one of the biggest pressures facing people in poverty. There’s not enough affordable housing, and private rents are often too high. Housing benefits rarely cover the full cost, and insecure tenancies make life even more difficult and stressful.

Health and Wellbeing

Living in poverty takes a serious toll on both physical and mental health.

Long-term reliance on cheap, processed foods also contributes to rising obesity rates—another hidden consequence of poverty. That’s why at the Okehampton Food Bank, we ensure that 50% of the food we provide is made up of fresh fruit and vegetables, helping people access the nutrition they need.

The Impact on Children

Child poverty affects 1 in 3 children in the UK. It limits their chances at school, affects their health, and shapes their future. Cuts to family support services have only made things worse.

Everyday Services Out of Reach

Even basic services like broadband, public transport, and local support centres are harder to access for people on low incomes. This isolation adds another layer to their struggle.

What Can Be Done?

Food banks offer vital emergency support, but we know we aren’t the long-term solution. Real change means fair wages, better benefits, more affordable housing, and access to education and care for everyone.

You Can be Part of the Solution.

By supporting your local food bank—whether through donations, volunteering, or raising awareness—you’re helping people today while pushing for a fairer tomorrow.


Gig work refers to a type of employment where individuals are hired to complete short-term, flexible tasks or “gigs” rather than working as permanent employees. This work is often arranged through digital platforms or apps and can include a wide range of services.

A Closer Look at the Root Causes of Poverty in the UK

At The Okehampton Food Bank, we see the faces behind the statistics every day, families doing their best in a system that often works against them. Here’s what poverty looks like in our community, and why it’s happening.

Low Pay and Unstable Work

“I work two jobs, but it’s still not enough.”


Liam, a single dad, works long hours in retail and does evening shifts delivering takeaways. After rent, bills, and childcare, there’s often nothing left for food.

“Some weeks I skip meals so my daughter can eat.”

A Benefits System That Falls Short

“When my benefits were stopped, I had nothing.”


Sarah was sanctioned after missing a Universal Credit appointment while in hospital. She and her two young children went over a week with no income.

“If the food bank hadn’t helped, we wouldn’t have eaten.”

Housing That’s Hard to Afford

“We’re paying more for less.”


Mark and Leanne, with three children, live in a damp, one-bedroom flat. Most of their income goes to rent, but they can’t afford to move.

“The kids sleep in the living room. It’s not safe, but we don’t have a choice.”

Health and Wellbeing

“I chose between heating and eating.”


Maya, who has long-term health issues, couldn’t afford both her medication and her gas meter. She ended up in hospital with pneumonia last winter. “Nobody should have to choose like that.”

The Impact on Children

“My son cried because he couldn’t bring a snack to school.”


Ella’s child was embarrassed when he didn’t have anything for snack time, unlike his friends. “We’re not bad parents. We’re just struggling—and it’s heartbreaking.” We at the food bank were happy to supply snacks for school as part of her food donation.

What Can Be Done?

These stories are just a few among many. They remind us that poverty is not a personal failure—it’s a result of systems that leave people behind.

We believe everyone deserves dignity, stability, and access to the basics: food, housing, healthcare, and opportunity. Until that’s possible for everyone, food banks like ours will keep standing in the gap.

Help Us Make a Difference

Your support—whether it’s a food donation, a few volunteer hours, or simply spreading the word—can help people like Liam, Sarah, and Ella get through hard times.

Together, we can work toward a future where no one has to rely on a food bank.

The powerful stories shared by food bank users highlight the deep-rooted inequality and systemic issues contributing to poverty in the UK. Issues that stand in stark contrast to the high salaries of housing association CEOs.

While families like Liam’s, Sarah’s, and Ella’s struggle to afford basic necessities like food, heating, and safe housing, many CEOs of housing associations—organisations originally founded to support vulnerable people—earn salaries well into six figures, with some exceeding £400,000. Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has criticised these pay levels, arguing that they suggest a departure from the charitable mission these associations were meant to uphold.

The link between CEO pay and food bank dependency is found in the failure of systems meant to provide safety and support. When housing remains unaffordable or substandard, as in the case of Mark and Leanne’s damp, overcrowded flat, it raises serious questions about where public and charitable money is going and who is truly being served.

At a time when many rely on food banks to survive, it is reasonable to challenge whether such high executive pay is appropriate in organisations tasked with addressing basic human needs such as housing. Bridging this disconnect is essential if we are to create a society where people don’t have to choose between heating and eating, or feel ashamed for sending their children to school without food.