‘Awful April’: what it means for UK households

As the days get longer and the weather becomes warmer, April normally brings the anticipation of sun, spring, and summer. However, for millions of UK households this year, this excitement is eclipsed by ‘awful April,’ which will see gruelling price hikes across seven household bills.

The BIG 5: Water. Energy. Phones. Cars. Tax. Some of the most essential parts of everyday living in 2025 are about to become the most expensive, too, as these bills are set to rise next month, placing immense pressure on already struggling UK households.

How ‘awful’ will April really be?

The effect of rising costs will certainly be felt by everyone, but they will especially burden those already struggling to make ends meet. In addition to increases for common household bills (e.g. water, energy, and council tax), costs for car taxes, broadband, phones, TV licenses, and even stamp duties for properties will also rise.

In England and Wales, water bills are expected to increase by £10 per month on average and nearly 22 million homes across England, Wales, and Scotland will also feel the effects of annual energy household bills increasing by £111 per year.

This is sounding the alarms as food is often the first essential deprioritised by people when their budgets are tightened. Some foodbanks reported users unfortunately reject nutritious foods and produce options, like root vegetables and potatoes, because of the costs to boil them. This is often known as the “food vs. fuel” or “heating or eating” dilemma — and one that no one should ever have to decide between.

Widespread hikes to council tax across 33 boroughs are also posing a “bombshell for thousands of the poorest Londoners.” Some councils are even reducing the income threshold that allows people to not pay taxes — so now, more low-income families are paying this tax for the very first time, leaving less funds for food.

Despite London’s living wage steadily increasingly, from £13.15 to £13.85 per hour, this is failing to significantly improve living standards for most people. This increase also pales in comparison to impending bill hikes. Wages are being outpaced by inflation and the rising costs of living, leaving vulnerable individuals and communities to manage with limited disposable income. Today, Britain’s poorest households “[spend] almost as much on these bills as they pay in income tax,” economist Lalitha Try told The Guardian.

This is raising concerns and increasing stressors for the country’s most vulnerable, like the elderly and retirees, working class individuals, families with children, lower-income communities, and more. Some estimates believe retirees, for instance, will need to save an additional £1,780 per year, an extra savings burden that they — and many others — cannot stretch to meet.

Beyond bills, food is becoming more unaffordable than ever

As if the rising costs of food, alone, over the past decade — due to factors like inflation, supply chain costs, extreme weather events, and the climate crisis — weren’t enough, bill hikes are reducing households’ ability to afford food. Experts point to a perfect storm of impacts from climate change, geopolitical instability, labour shortages, and Brexit that contribute to food unaffordability. City Harvest’s “Harvesting Optimism” Value of Food Redistribution Report dives into these challenges faced by Britain’s food industry.

These pressures come as the UK experiences food shortages that have led to higher production costs for food distributors, agricultural workers, and business, generally. Tesco customers earlier this month were greeted with empty banana shelves in London and across the UK due to poor weather conditions impacting supply. Bananas are an excellent, affordable source of potassium and one of Tesco’s most popular products.

The dual crises of food affordability and rising food insecurity are national emergencies — putting the most vulnerable communities at risk. The Peabody Group found that more residents describe their financial situations as “difficult” than “ok,” with many reporting worsening realities over the past year. Across every age group, people have cut back on food and other living essentials.

Devastating impacts to wellbeing and health are amongst the many consequences. And strong links between food insecurity and malnutrition, obesity, eating disorders, and depression (see City Harvest’s “Nourish to Flourish” Value of Food Redistribution to People Report) reveal how food is — at its core — a people issue.

At this time, food redistribution organisations play a more critical role than ever in helping to supply pantries, foodbanks, and community centres with the stock they need to continuing serving those in need.

“We cannot see it getting better anytime soon”: How food banks plan to weather ‘awful April’ storms

Food banks have long been an essential resource for those struggling to afford food, especially the food that comprises a well-balanced, nutritious diet. While some people continue to rely on food banks, others are turning to food banks for the very first time.

A report by Trussell Trust found that more than 9 million people in the UK experience levels of poverty and hunger “so extreme that they are vulnerable to reliance on charity food handouts,” and among those receiving Universal Credit and disability benefits, one in five used a foodbank in the last month.

But more than ever, as need surges and “awful April” looms, foodbanks, too, are feeling the debilitating effects of rising costs. This has only increased the number of people who rely on food banks for both weekly essentials and top-ups.

But food banks are equally feeling the impacts of ‘awful April,’ as they face a plethora of challenges including:

• A shortage of volunteers;
• Fewer donations;
• Having to spend more to purchase food; and
• Using out-of-pocket funds to purchase their supplies.

The Family Centre in New Addington, expressed to City Harvest their own concerns around food affordability, price hikes, and the impact of these realities on their operations and users.

As a small charity that operates a food pantry, the Family Centre cannot see things getting better anytime soon, especially as April rolls around. Sadly, this is not unlike the stories of many community centres and foodbanks. It’s reported that more than half of London’s working families have turned to foodbanks this past year.

Food Insecurity Rates in Croydon are High:

The Family Centre serves residents within Croydon, the second largest London borough and home to a significant number of low-income households (26%, as of 2022) and higher levels of average child poverty rates (31%) compared to other boroughs. Local residents can ‘shop’ at The Food Stop pantry each week with a membership fee — currently standing at £4 and receive up to £30 worth of produce including: meat, fruit, vegetables, fridge and freezer items, pulses, grains, store cupboard staples, and hygiene essentials.

We are based in Fieldway New Addington, which is known to be an area of deprivation. There are a lot of working families, parents who have two or three jobs (nurses, healthcare assistants, teachers, young people)  who are walking through our doors. Their wages are not stretching to the end of the month. Those on universal credit are struggling too. Everything is going up, and it is affecting their mental health and wellbeing.

Julia Weller, CEO of The Family Centre

Picture above: the team at the Family Centre, Fieldway, New Addington

Rising costs has placed immense pressure on The Family Centre

While The Family Centre requires a small membership fee, the fee is not so small for those experiencing financial strain. Lisa Hatton P.A, shared that the organisation is flexible recognising that these days, not all families can afford the fee.

“Many residents have no recourse to public funds, or they are in limbo waiting for universal credit… we also have residents with four or five children who are really struggling,” Hatton shared. “It is completely okay if they do not have the £4 fee, support is still given as no one should ever go without food. And for many people, this is not their top-up shop — this is their weekly shop.”

Rising costs have been placed immense pressure on The Family Centre, which is already resource-strained: made up of only a three-person team and supporting up to 100-130 residents each week. Everything from the cost of petrol needed to go to grocery shop to stock the pantry to the energy costs of running the Centre, the team feels strained to meet growing .

“After Christmas, in January, there is a long time before pay day, and it is important to continuing to support residents until they get paid again,” Weller shared. “In January, we were not in a position to offer a free month for members, like we have done before, which was a real shame. This is because of the knock-on effect of bills going up.”

Individuals from the community who come through their doors are also feeling the pressure – both financially and mentally. One member came to the Family Centre  “panicking about council tax” and how to afford the increasing costs of living and food. During these times, the Family Centre remains committed to doing everything possible to not increase membership fees. However, there are times when the Centre must shut for staff leave instead of offering a pantry shop, members are given supermarket food vouchers.

We have regular meetings to discuss our budget and accounts; things have gone up a lot and there is only three of us. Having the time to write funding bids as well as deliver services can be a challenge. A website is being developed so we can bring more funds in thefamilycentre.org.uk. But when you’re small, it’s tough.

Julia Weller, CEO of The Family Centre

Holiday Hunger will make a return in the school holidays

And with warmer months approaching, so does the resurgence of holiday hunger, a concept explored in City Harvest’s “What does holiday hunger mean?” report. The summer season is seen as a difficult time for the poorest and most vulnerable UK families due to increased childcare costs and the absence of free school meals, school food banks, and breakfast clubs. The Family Centre acknowledges the difficulties of non-term time, and provides meals and activities to support hard-hit families. Watch a short video here.

Hatton and Weller view City Harvest as essential to their work, celebrating over five years of partnership. City Harvest supplies the Centre with fresh fruit, vegetables, fridge items and meat. We receive nutritious items in high demand that can be difficult to supply and keep in stock.

When the City Harvest van pulled into our car park at the start of the pandemic, it was at a time when our numbers were increasing. We were worried about how we were going to stock the shop. Ever since then, we have had a beautiful partnership… City Harvest has saved us thousands of £… It’s been five years since our partnership began and long may it continue.

Julia Weller, CEO of The Family Centre

Pictured above: City Harvest delivers free food to school food bank at Pakeman Primary School, Islington

City Harvest’s Impact

By rescuing food, City Harvest rescues people and the planet, too. This year, alone, the organisation has been able to expand its services and offerings — from launching new trucks of up to 26 tonnes to rescue more surplus produce to establishing permanent sites at New Covent Garden Market — City Harvest is gearing up for its most demanding year yet, as need rises.

“Awful April: Household bill increases will impact a greater proportion of the population than ever before. 30% of Londoners will afford fewer meals for the family, it will mean cold showers, cold food, poorer nutrition, and a heavier reliance on food aid from community organisations.

 

It’s really the BIG 5!! FOOD alone is 25% more expensive than 2 years ago, rises in WATER, ENERGY, CARS and COUNCIL TAX will deepen the debt of households who have not seen wage increases begin to match the rise in cost of living.

 

This isn’t ‘I can’t have a new mobile phone poor’ this is ‘I can’t feed my children’ poor, this is Dickensian levels of malnutrition, April is truly going to be awful for so many people.”

Sarah Calcutt, City Harvest CEO.

In 2024, City Harvest delivered free food to over 125,000 Londoners every week, and supports 350+ community partners in greater London and beyond. Feeding people across 29 London boroughs, City Harvest can reach the communities in greatest need, including Tower Hamlets, Newham, Southwark, and Greenwich, boroughs that experience some of the highest levels of food insecurity and household poverty.