‘We’ve handed out 800 meals in one day... the situation is critical’
One of the organisers behind the food bank said they are ‘constantly worrying’ if they would have enough food to go around. Robert Dalling reports
AFOODBANK has described the “critical situation” families are facing due to what it claims are Universal Credit cut pressures.
SOS Shelters Wales runs a food bank every Tuesday in Lime Street, Gorseinon, Swansea, and after its most recent session, those behind the scheme were shocked to discover they had given out the equivalent of 800 meals in one day.
Founders, Mike and David Tiley, and fellow members said they have seen a “surge in need” in the community following the recent cuts to people’s benefits.
And they are having people visit from far and wide, including areas like Llanelli.
They have become so overwhelmed they have asked that only people from Pontlliw, Gowerton, Penllergaer, Loughor, Penyrheol, Gorseinon and Grovesend attend for the time being.
Mike Tiley explained: “The situation is always bad anyway, we’re constantly worrying every week if we have enough to go around.
“The support we’ve had from all the businesses has been amazing, but it’s a constant battle, and we’re finding there is a big increase now.
“We record what we hand out and at the end of last Tuesday, we worked out we gave out the equivalent in one session of over 800 meals.
“If you tell people they won’t believe you.
“We will survive, we put a shoutout on our Facebook page and people come down with bags of tins and things like that, we just have to let people know it’s not easy.
“We have noticed the cut to Universal Credit has had a massive impact.”
Universal Credit, which has been steadily rolled out since 2013, is claimed by four million families in the UK.
A £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit that was being paid during the pandemic was taken away again in October in a controversial move.
The UK Government, however, says it has always been clear that the £20 increase was a temporary measure to support households affected by th economic shock of Covid-19, and that it had been extended from its originally-chosen end point until last month. Mike Tiley spoke of the reality he sees.
We talk to people as well and some people confide in us and tell us why they have had to come to the foodbank and how embarrassed they are,” he said.
“Some people come in with faces where you can see the worry and the trauma and sadness.
“When they walk out from us, they’re like a different person.
“As soon as they see the bags coming and what’s in them, their faces do light up.
“The kids – that’s the best part, the children. When they say, ‘Mummy, Mummy, look, Greggs!’ All the savouries and cakes, and chocolates we get donated from businesses, these kids are jumping up and down.
“To me when I first saw it, I was thinking, ‘What’s the fuss about’ but then I realised they don’t normally get that kind of stuff, because a lot of people can’t afford to go to Subway and all this.
“To me, that’s a big thing. When you see the kids and their smiles and their happiness – they don’t know what’s going on, the adults do.”
An appeal has now been made to help replenish stocks.