Huge foodbank use increase

Foodbank users were at “crisis point”last year amidst a dramatic increase in the number of those reliant on such services across Scotland.

New figures show almost 600,000 emergency food parcels were handed out by foodbanks over 18 months – an increase of 22 per cent on the previous 18 months.

And that included here in East Kilbride, with Loaves and Fishes chairman, Denis Curran calling the increase“sad”.

Denis added:“Sadly once again there was a increase in those in need this Christmas.

“Thankfully the people and businesses rose to the challenge with such vigour – the demand was up, but so were donations.

“We have to issue a big, enormous thank you to EK, East Kilbride management. Their toy appeal was a tremendous, only outdone by Santa donations.

“Once again the East Kilbride family rose to help neighbours in need.”

A spokesman for the UK government said the reasons for people using food banks were “complex,”adding that the government‘supports’ more than 2.7m people in the UK via Universal Credit.

Research carried out found more than 278,000 parcels were handed out between 91 of the the country’s 101 independent food banks between April 2018 and September 2019

A further 318,214 parcels went out through the Trussell Trust’s 135 venues

The Scottish government said foodbank use had been directly linked to UK government welfare cuts, benefits sanctions and Universal Credit.

They said to tackle this they have invested more than £1.4bn in support for low income households in 2018/19.