A regional publisher is urging readers to back their local food bank following Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s “bruising” Autumn Statement.

Titles across the National World portfolio have this morning launched a national campaign in support of The Trussell Trust, to encourage emergency support for food bank centres across the UK.

National World is calling on readers and its own journalists to help to make a true difference this winter by sparing whatever they can to support the Trust’s emergency appeal.

The campaign’s launch appeared on the front pages of a number of company’s newspapers, including the Shields Gazette, yesterday

National World publisher Laura Collins said: “We are a force for good in the communities we serve and by harnessing our collective strength across our titles we hope we can make a real difference to people’s lives.

“Food banks are at breaking point and following the bruising Autumn Statement there are very real worries that more and more people will be turning to them for support as the cost-of-living crisis only continues to deepen.

“Not only are they seeing a rise in demand for people turning to them, but there is also a worrying dip in donations as people are forced to tighten their purse strings.

“It is a crying shame that we need food banks in this day and age but we’re determined to do all we can to support people through this difficult time.”

Donations to the appeal can be made via a dedicated online fundraising page.

Emma Revie, chief executive of The Trussell Trust, said: “People are struggling to afford the essentials and we are expecting that this winter will be the hardest yet for food banks and the people they support.

“The public has continued to be generous with its donations, but food banks are having to buy twice as much food as they did last year and that, combined with rising operational costs, is making it hard for them to keep going.”