Region’s food bank use hits record high
CHARITY SAYS UNIVERSAL CREDIT IS SWEEPING FAMILIES INTO POVERTY
FOOD bank usage in Greater Manchester has hit a record high as thousands of hungry children and adults ‘simply cannot afford’ to eat.
Exclusive figures provided by the Trussell Trust show that 77,973 emergency food parcels were issued to people in need across our city-region in 2018/19.
More than one in three of these food parcels – or 29,452 – was for a child. Campaigners said that ‘enough is enough’ and warned Universal Credit was contributing to the huge numbers of people who don’t have enough money to ‘cover the basics’ – such as food.
The 77,973 emergency food parcels given to people in Greater Manchester in 2018/19 was up from 70,112 the year before. It was also the highest number of parcels handed out since comparable records at a local level were first published in 2013/14.
Those who use food banks must be issued a voucher by somebody else such as a GP, a social worker or charity.
Every time an individual needs a new emergency food parcel they must be issued with another voucher.
The Trussell Trust said that on average, people who accessed food banks in 2018/19 needed around two referrals each. Emma Revie, chief executive of The Trussell Trust, said: “What we are seeing yearupon-year is more and more people struggling to eat because they simply cannot afford food. Enough is enough.
“We know this situation can be fixed – that’s why we’re campaigning to create a future where no one needs a food bank.
“Our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty.
“Universal Credit should be part of the solution but currently the five-week wait is leaving many without enough money to cover the basics. As a priority, we’re urging the government to end the wait for Universal Credit to ease the pressure on thousands of households.
A DWP spokesperson said: “Universal Credit is a force for fairness, providing support to people who are unemployed and helping them find work as quickly as possible.”