Foodbank use rises 30% over the past year
● ABIGAIL DONOGHUE
WIDNES Foodbank has seen a 30% increase of people using its services in the past year.
Between April 2017 and March 2018, the food bank has seen nearly 1,500 three-day emergency food supplies given to families in need.
Since opening 2012, it has distributed over 100,000kg of food to Widnes residents.
Each month volunteers produce around 130 food parcels for people who have been referred to them by front-line specialists. However, this number can increase during holiday periods when children are not in school.
It currently has more than 100 volunteers registered who help out with supermarket collections, driving vans and by taking up positions in the distribution centre.
Gareth Watson, communications co-ordinator of Widnes Foodbank, said: “So far we’ve been really fortunate (and extremely grateful) to the people of Widnes, who have turned out in their droves to donate to our cause. However we would never refuse a donation of a non-perishable food item – or toiletry – so we continue to appeal for donations to ensure we are sus- tainable to meet any unforeseen spike in demand.”
“Our volunteers are extremely important to us – if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to open our foodbank centres each week. We rely on the support of the local community, so no matter the contribution, we appreciate all help.”
Food banks provide emergency food for people in crisis, helping to prevent crime, housing loss and mental health problems. Organisations work with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
Widnes Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust’s network, which reported a UK-wide increase in food bank usage in April. Trussell Trust believes that the increase is due to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments, issue with Universal Credit, and insecure, low-paid work.
Widnes Foodbank said: “We share the concerns of other food banks in full Universal Credit rollout areas, highlighted by Trussell Trust.
“The food bank has provided emergency food and support to people needing help due to: the adverse impact of the initial wait, the lack of available statutory support, and the inability of universal credit payments to cover the cost of living.”
“The food bank is working hard to offer practical emergency support to help prevent people affected going hungry, whilst participating in vital research and raising awareness about the issues local people are facing.”
Mr Watson said he does not want the food bank to be there forever. He said: “No-one in Widnes should need a food bank’s help and we long for the day when nobody needs to turn to emergency food. It doesn’t have to be this way – with a benefits system that catches people before they fall into crisis, and secure work that provides people with enough money to cover the cost of essentials, this is possible.”
“But until that time, we’ll continue t to provide vital supp port when it matters m most.”
People interested i in volunteering can find positions at do- it. org/ organisations/ widnes- foodb bank