Food poverty on the rise as winter draws in

FOODBANK use is on the rise across Hinckley and Bosworth, as more and more families are finding themselves in financial crisis and food poverty.

Between April 1 and September 30 this year Hinckley Area Foodbank provided three-day emergency food supplies to 1,817 people - an increase of more than 30 per cent on the same period last year.

Of those, more than one-third were aged 16 and under - most of them children in a household with adults but some of them young teenagers no longer at home and in desperate straits.

Foodbank leaders say that escalating living costs and in particular the introduction of Universal Credit have hit people already struggling to make ends meet.

With the onset of winter, the number of people failing to cope is expected to rise further.

Hinckley Area Foodbank project manager Andy Cleaver said: “The six-plus week waiting period for a first payment (of Universal Credit) can contribute to debt, mental health issues and rent arrears.

“The effects of these can last even after people receive their payments, as bills and debts pile up.

“In the months leading to Christmas a number of factors, such as cold weather and high energy bills, or Foodbanks and referral agencies ensuring that people who are likely to hit crisis have food ahead of Christmas day, mean the Foodbank network traditionally sees a spike in use.”

Hinckley Area Foodbank is part of The Trussell Trust’s national network of schemes which has also reported increased use across the UK.

Mr Cleaver said the increased demand put extra pressure on donors and volunteers working to support the people most in need.

He said: “Every week people are referred to us after something unavoidable like illness, a delayed ben- efit payment or an unexpected bill means there’s no money for food.

“It’s only with local people’s help that we’re able to provide vital support when it matters most, and while we hope one day there’ll be no need for our work, until that day comes we’ll be working hard to help prevent people going hungry.”

Hinckley Area Foodbank leaders are calling on supporters to help them prepare for their busiest time of year by donating urgently needed items such as tinned vegetables, coffee, rice and instant mashed potatoes which can be dropped off at donation points at Hinckley’s Asda and Tesco supermarkets and at churches across the borough.

The scheme relies on volunteers to operate and on financial donations to contnue its critical work

Any business, organisation or individual willing to offer financial support is asked to visit hinckleyarea.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/ donate-money and anyone interested in working a volunteer can find out more online.