There’s a world outside your window and it’s a world of dread and fear ..
This is Christmas on Britain’s breadline, Mrs May..
Food banks’ handouts are only way poor can put a festive meal on the table
POVERTY-STRICKEN families are having to turn to handouts from food banks for their Christmas dinner.
The Trussell Trust charity say they have seen a 48 per cent increase in the number of Scots coming through their doors in December compared to the rest of the year.
And the high level of demand at their Glasgow south-east food bank – one of the busiest in Scotland –is clear to anyone who visits.
Audrey Flannagan, who has managed the operation for six years, said: “We are seeing more people who are struggling due to universal credit, benefit caps or losing out on their child tax credit.
“Some are up to £50 a week down, which is a substantial amount when you have kids to feed.
“Up until two months ago, our referral rate on a Friday was 30 cases and the food parcels provided would feed 80 people.
“Now we are seeing 55 referrals and that feeds 200 people. It’s a tragic situation that’s only getting worse.
“We’re able to provide Christmas dinner and a small present.
“It’s not a lot, but a tin of boiled ham, potatoes, veg and a small pudding goes a long way when you have nothing. Most of the people are desperate and don’t have money to buy their kids presents, let alone fund a Christmas dinner.”
The food bank is a lifeline to those most in need and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday it is manned by a team of four volunteers who help put together hundreds of food parcels.
People are referred from social services, Citizens Advice Scotland, Money Matters and other agencies.
But it is donations from wellwishers, supermarkets, schools, businesses and market traders that ensure the branch are able to keep feeding hard-up families.
The trust have just reported their busiest year in Scotland with 76,764 packages of three-day emergency food supplies given to people in crisis – 24,142 to children.
Audrey believes people turn to a food bank as a last resort.
Some suffer from poor health, abuse, mental or physical disability and severe social disadvantage or are vulnerable in other ways.
Winter also sees a rise in referrals as people have to choose between eating and heating.
The food bank give users with pre-payment meters vouchers for two weeks of light and heating.
Audrey said: “People who come here are at crisis point and have nowhere else to turn. That’s why we exist because people have no other way of feeding themselves. It’s heartbreaking, especially at this time of year.”
Trussell Trust data reveals that issues with benefit payments remain the biggest cause of referral to a food bank across Scotland, accounting for 42 per cent of all cases.
The trust’s Scotland director, Tony Graham, said: “We are concerned that the ongoing impact of welfare reform – especially
universal credit roll-out – combined with increased demand we traditionally see over winter, will leave food banks struggling to feed everyone who comes through the doors.
“Food banks in Scotland are already acting as an unofficial safety net, attempting to catch people let down by a welfare system that should be there for vulnerable families when they need it most.
“Not only would it be morally wrong for us to become a de facto arm of the welfare state, if welfare reform and universal credit roll-out continue unchanged, we simply will not be able to catch everyone that falls.”
Robert Beg was forced to turn to a food bank when poor health caused him to lose his job and he found himself sleeping rough on the streets.
He said: “I suffer badly with epilepsy and began taking a lot of seizures, making it difficult for me to keep my job.
“I also suffer from painful ulcers on my leg and struggle to walk any distances.
“Every time I go into hospital, it gets better for a while but then the condition flares up again.
“I’m probably going to lose my leg, which will make my situation even worse. I want to work but my medical issues makes it pretty much impossible at the moment.”
Robert, 45, from Glasgow’s Gorbals, said that without the food bank, he would go hungry.
He said: “I don’t have a penny to my name and the food I get here has to last me until January.
“Benefit sanctions make it difficult and by the time I’ve paid my bills, there’s not much left. I’m living day to day and it’s depressing.
“The system is failing people like me. I’ve asked for help several times but people don’t seem to care. I just feel so hopeless and I can’t see things getting better anytime soon.”
Norman Mann, from Govanhill, is struggling to keep a roof over his head after losing his carer’s allowance when his mum had to go into a home.
He is so poor he can’t afford to cook Christmas dinner.
He said: “I cared for my mum, who suffers from dementia. I also looked after my stepfather until he passed away at 94.
“My mum is now in a care home and I don’t have anything – that’s why I’ve been referred to a food bank. It’s a struggle to keep my head above water.”
Norman is now struggling to find employment and admits he is dreading Christmas Day.
He added: “I looked after my folks for 10 years. My stepdad was a D-Day veteran and a very proud man and I know he’d hate to see me struggle like this. The food bank is a lifeline, but many vulnerable and older people won’t even know it exists.”
Vivienne Duncan lost her home and business after her husband ran up gambling debts. After he lost £22,000 in one night, they hit rock bottom.
The 53-year-old said: “It’s been the worst time of our lives. My husband has mental health problems and he started gambling. At first, it was just small amounts here and there, but things soon got worse.
“We owned a pub but eventually lost absolutely everything.”
The couple, from Glasgow, are living in temporary accommodation and haven’t had any cash since the start of December.
Vivienne added: “I never thought I’d have to rely on a food bank.
“Without it, though, we would have nothing to eat over Christmas. My husband is seeking help and I just hope things improve.”