School children have turned out in force to help those struggling with rising living costs in north London.

A total of 32 schools across north London have committed to supporting Food Bank Aid, a charity which provides food and toiletries to around 20 food banks in the area.

Since the beginning of this school year, the charity’s hub in North Finchley has received more than 2,000 bags of shopping.

Maria Michael, the deputy head of Holly Park School in Friern Barnet, said: “We’ve had fantastic support from our families for Food Bank Aid. Our children have donated lots of things over the last couple of years.

“We love supporting food bank aid because we want our children to learn about giving back to the community.”

Food Bank Aid anticipates that more than 10,000 local children will be wearing stickers over the next week in support of the charity’s ‘Don’t Turn Your Back’ campaign.

St Martin’s School in Mill Hill and Southbank International School in Hampstead are among the schools taking part.

The campaign will culminate in a 36-hour fundraising event from March 19 until March 20.

Every donation that Food Bank Aid receives during the event will be doubled, as it has secured £500,000 of matched funding through a crowdfunding campaign.

To support the campaign visit www.charityextra.com/foodbankaid.

The fundraising effort comes as Food Bank Aid says demand has increased by 34% since October.

Julie Bogush, a volunteer for the charity, described her sadness at seeing the number of people using food banks “going up and up and up”.

One food bank user who has benefitted from the support of Food Bank Aid is Andrea.

She described the decision to turn to food banks as “not easy” but said that she now feels “supported”.

She added: “When you come to the centre they make you feel like you’re welcome.

“It’s a wonderful feeling because you know you are loved, and when you give…the food…to your children and you see the smiles on their faces that makes you feel happy.”

Davina Johnson, the food bank manager at Bruce Grove Youth Centre, praised the work of Food Bank Aid and said they supply the food bank with the “greatest” products.

She added: “We have an amazing food bank here and it’s all down to the people at Food Bank Aid.

“It means we can feed all the people from our community – they’re just fantastic.”

See the full list of food banks supported by food bank aid below.

Barnet

All Saints Church, Church Walk, Childs Hill

Barnfield School, Silkstream Road, Edgware

Gift charity shop, 61-63 Watford Way, Hendon

Homeless Action in Barnet, 36B Woodhouse Road, North Finchley

St Barnabas, 913 High Road, North Finchley

St Marys Church, 279 High Road, East Finchley,

Trinity Church Northwest Centre, Avion Crescent, Grahame Park Way, Colindale

United Synagogue, 305 Ballards Lane, North Finchley

Camden

28 Phoenix Road, Somers Town

Enfield

The Ark, 500 Montague Road, Edmonton

Haringey

Bruce Grove Youth Centre, 10 Bruce Grove, Tottenham

Middle Lane Methodist Church, Corner of Lightfoot Road & Middle Lane, Hornsey

Selby Centre, Selby Road, Tottenham

Seven Sisters Primary School, South Grove, Tottenham

St Mary's, Hornsey Rise, Ashley Road, Hornsey

St Michaels Hall, 37 Bounds Green Road, Wood Green

Islington

People’s Army, 70 Gladsmuir Road, Archway

ARC, 98b Paul Street, Islington

The Old Laundry, Islington