Somerset food bank sees 100+ families amid cost of living
A Somerset food bank reports that it now regularly assists more than 100 families, highlighting the ongoing impact of the cost of living crisis on local communities.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A food club in Radstock, Somerset, says it is now regularly helping more than 100 families, as the cost of living crisis continues to bite across the West. The Radstock Food Club, which runs every Friday from the town's library, distributes surplus food from supermarkets and suppliers alongside donations. Volunteers say demand has grown and that the stigma around using food support is fading.
The club provides a wide range of items, including fresh fruit and vegetables, salad, products for young people and even pet food. It is run without judgement and solely for the benefit of its members, many of whom are families with young children, older people with carers, and families with teenagers.
One volunteer noted that Radstock is one of the lowest income areas in the country, and that the cost of living is enormous. People cannot afford standard healthy food, so they turn to quick, convenient options that are not good for them. Providing this support makes a big difference to the local community.
A member of the club said it is difficult because healthy food is expensive, while cheap junk food is easier to buy. She added that it is not fair on children to go without the food they need to grow, and that parents who are working hard still struggle to buy food for their kids.
The club has been open for about a quarter of an hour on the day of reporting, and already a dozen people have come through the door, including one new person signing up. Whether that is good news is a question to ponder, the report noted.
The wider picture across the West is similar, with rising living costs pushing more people who have never used a food bank or food club before to seek help.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| A food club in Radstock regularly helps more than 100 families. | |
| Radstock is one of the lowest income areas in the country. | |
| The food club distributes surplus food from supermarkets and suppliers. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the human impact of the cost of living crisis, using direct voices from volunteers and a member of the food club. It highlights the practical operation of the club, the range of items available, and the reduced stigma around seeking help. The tone is empathetic but factual, with a subtle question about whether rising numbers are a good or bad sign.
- “Radstock Food Club added more people are coming forward as there's less stigma about receiving help.”
- “I'd definitely say there's less stigma now, there's more people doing it therefore people are less worried.”
- “Whether that is good news or not is really a question to ponder.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.