STUDENTS and staff at the University of Worcester have done their bit to make sure as many people as possible enjoy a meal this Christmas.

The team have donated 160kg of food to the Worcester Foodbank this month, which will go towards helping individuals and families who would otherwise be without during the festive season.

With many students going home for the festive season, the Students’ Union urged all those living in Halls of Residence and in private accommodation to check their cupboards and donate food to the Foodbank.

Third-year student, Olivia Tooby, said: “Students on the Human Nutrition course visited the Worcester Foodbank in October as part of our public health module. The experience opened my eyes to these issues locally.

“There has been a really positive response around the university, and it has been fantastic to see students helping the local community.”

The Worcester Foodbank is part of a national network of around 420 supported by the Trussell Trust. Foodbanks provide food boxes containing a minimum of three days’ worth of nutritionally-balanced, non-perishable food, and rely on the support and donations of local communities.

Tom Garcia, who is in the first year of his Geography course, said: “I think that the amount of food that has been donated is a real credit to the students of the University of Worcester.

“Sadly, the need for Foodbanks is becoming greater, with more families and individuals finding themselves in need of this valuable resource. Many people are unaware of the growth in the number of Foodbanks nationwide. I feel that it is up to policy makers to address social issues within their constituencies and to act fast to improve this situation.”

In the UK, it is estimated that 13 million people live below the poverty line.

Last year alone, almost 350,000 people received at least one three-day emergency food package from a Foodbank. That figure is three times the number of people that were helped in 2011-2012, and represents the highest increase seen since the trust began in 2000.

To contact the Foodbank, call 01905 780400 or email info@worcester.foodbank.org.uk.