Key Points
- Wandsworth Foodbank spokesperson urges the UK government to scrap the total benefit cap amid surging emergency food demand in London due to cost-of-living pressures.
- Sarah Chapman, advocacy and communications manager at Wandsworth Foodbank, welcomes the Chancellor’s decision to abolish the two-child benefit cap from April 2026 but insists it falls short.
- The two-child benefit cap removal is expected to lift 450,000 children out of relative low-income households, per government projections.
- Many families will see no improvement due to the total benefit cap, which restricts maximum benefits regardless of household size.
- A single mother of five, including a disabled baby, stated she will no longer need foodbank support after April 2026.
- Some households already at the benefit cap maximum will gain nothing from the two-child cap lift.
- Demand for emergency food parcels at Wandsworth Foodbank has risen 400% over the past 13 years.
- Trussell Trust figures from March 2025 show food parcel distribution in London more than doubled since 2020.
- Cost of living and inflation exacerbate struggles for low, fixed-income households, leaving no budget flexibility for rising food prices.
- Donations have increased over the past decade; Wandsworth Foodbank now boasts 350 volunteers.
- Collection points operate in most Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Asda stores in the borough.
- Partnership with Bankuet platform enables virtual donations for bulk food purchases.
- Collaboration with Wandsworth Citizens Advice provides income maximisation and financial resilience advice to foodbank referrals.
- Sarah Chapman helped establish Wandsworth Foodbank in 2013.
- Lifting the two-child cap is seen as transformative, but without total benefit cap removal, foodbanks will continue filling welfare gaps.
Wandsworth, London (South London News) January 28, 2026 – A spokesperson for Wandsworth Foodbank has called on the UK government to abolish the total benefit cap entirely, as demand for emergency food parcels in the capital surges amid unrelenting cost-of-living pressures.
Sarah Chapman, advocacy and communications manager at Wandsworth Foodbank, praised the Chancellor’s announcement to end the two-child benefit cap from April 2026 but warned it does not address deeper systemic issues. This reform, projected to help 450,000 children escape relative low-income households according to government analysis, leaves many families trapped by the overarching total benefit cap that limits total welfare payments irrespective of family size.​
Why is Wandsworth Foodbank pushing for the total benefit cap’s removal?
As reported in the initial coverage, Sarah Chapman stated:
“We can’t wait to see the two-child benefit cap lifted.”
She highlighted positive impacts, noting:
“We know families who have said they will now have enough money to survive.”
Chapman cited one such parent, a single mother of five children, including a disabled baby, who said she will no longer need to use the foodbank come April.
However, Chapman emphasised limitations:
“But there are some people who won’t gain anything because they’re already receiving the maximum, and it’ll still be difficult for them.”
She advocated strongly:
“We need to relink need and provision by scrapping the overall benefit cap.”
This position stems from frontline observations at Wandsworth Foodbank, where Chapman, who helped establish the charity in 2013, has witnessed a 400% increase in demand for emergency food parcels over the past 13 years. Annual figures from the Trussell Trust, released in March 2025, corroborate this trend, revealing that food parcel distribution across London has more than doubled since 2020.
What impact has the cost of living had on foodbank usage?
Chapman explained the broader economic strain:
“The cost of living and inflation are making things harder for people. If you’re on a low and fixed income, you’re already spending a much larger portion of your budget on essentials like food and housing, so there’s no scope to deal with rising supermarket prices.”
These pressures affect households across income levels, yet Wandsworth Foodbank has adapted through community support. Donations have risen steadily over the past decade, enabling the charity to maintain 350 volunteers. Collection points are now embedded in most Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Asda stores throughout the borough, facilitating steady inflows of goods.
Additionally, the foodbank has partnered with the online platform Bankuet, where individuals can donate funds virtually. These contributions directly fund bulk food purchases, enhancing efficiency.
How does Wandsworth Foodbank support beyond food parcels?
Complementing its core mission, Wandsworth Foodbank collaborates with Wandsworth Citizens Advice to offer a dedicated support service. Referred clients can consult advisors on maximising income, tackling debt, and building financial resilience – addressing root causes rather than symptoms alone.
Chapman acknowledged operational challenges: there are times when the foodbank “just about copes” with demand. Nonetheless, she remains optimistic about the two-child cap abolition:
“lifting the two-child benefit cap will be transformative for both families and frontline charities.”
Will removing the total benefit cap solve foodbank pressures?
Chapman issued a stark warning without further reforms:
“without further reform in the shape of removing the total benefit cap, foodbanks will continue to fill gaps in the welfare system.”
This call underscores a broader debate on welfare sustainability, as emergency provisions increasingly supplement state support.
The Trussell Trust data reinforces the urgency, with London’s food parcel numbers doubling post-2020 amid inflation peaks. Wandsworth Foodbank’s 400% demand surge since 2013 – a period spanning Chapman’s involvement from inception – paints a picture of escalating need in this south London borough.
Government projections link the two-child cap lift to poverty reduction for 450,000 children, yet Chapman argues the total cap neutralises gains for larger or maxed-out households. The single mother’s testimonial – a parent of five, one disabled – exemplifies potential relief, but highlights uneven distribution of benefits.
What partnerships and community efforts sustain Wandsworth Foodbank?
Strategic alliances bolster operations. Bankuet’s virtual donation model modernises fundraising, converting online pledges into bulk buys. Retail partnerships with Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Asda ensure accessible collection points, embedding the foodbank into everyday shopping routines.
The 350-strong volunteer corps, grown amid rising donations, reflects robust community backing. Wandsworth Citizens Advice integration provides holistic aid: from benefit checks to budgeting workshops, empowering clients long-term.
Chapman’s tenure since 2013 offers continuity. Her advocacy blends data – Trussell Trust stats, demand metrics – with human stories, like the single mother’s anticipated independence.
How does this fit into London’s wider food insecurity trends?
Trussell Trust’s March 2025 report documents a post-2020 doubling of London parcels, aligning with Wandsworth’s trajectory. Inflation and housing costs squeeze fixed incomes, as Chapman noted, eroding buffers against price hikes.
The Chancellor’s April 2026 move addresses child limits but not total caps, per Chapman: families at the ceiling see no uplift. Her plea – “relink need and provision” – challenges policymakers to recalibrate welfare to family realities.
Optimism tempers caution: the two-child reform promises transformation, easing foodbank loads. Yet, absent total cap abolition, charities remain de facto safety nets.
What challenges persist despite rising donations?
Demand’s 400% climb tests capacity, with Chapman admitting near-breaking points. Volunteers and donors mitigate this, but systemic fixes are paramount.
The disabled baby’s mother embodies hope: post-April, self-sufficiency beckons. Yet, for capped households, struggles endure – no surplus from child cap relief.
Chapman’s voice, rooted in 13 years’ experience, carries weight. Her statements – from excitement over two-child changes to cap-scrapping urgency – frame a nuanced critique.
Broader implications for UK welfare policy
This story spotlights tensions between incremental reforms and comprehensive overhaul. Government data touts child poverty wins; foodbank leaders spotlight gaps.
London’s doubled parcels signal national undercurrents, amplified in Wandsworth. Chapman’s call resonates: without total cap removal, foodbanks bridge welfare chasms indefinitely.
