Crisis talks after city foodbank is forced to close
Representatives to discuss gaps in vital food aid
THE UK’s biggest network of foodbanks is to hold crisis talks in Glasgow following the collapse of a city charity.
Greater Maryhill Foodbank was expected to close its doors today after being hit by major funding shortages and alleged financial irregularities.
The head of the Trussell Trust in Scotland is to meet with representatives from its four foodbanks on Tuesday.
Ewan Gurr, Scotland Network Manager, said the aim of the meeting was to discuss whether the charity was in a position to help plug any gaps in emergency aid caused by the collapse.
The trust has continued to support Greater Maryhill Foodbank with food donations over the last few weeks.
Meanwhile, a number of l ocal groups and churches including Milton Food Hut and St Augustine’s are providing emergency rations.
Over the past year the foodbank has lost the support of Glasgow City Council, been investigat- ed by the Scottish charity regulator OSCR, lost a partnership with Tesco and had part of their Scottish Government grant revoked for failing to meet funding requirements.
The foodbank has now been served with an eviction notice.
Mr Gurr said: “Greater Maryhill foodbank is independent and not part of The Trussell Trust network,
“However we have always sought to have open and transparent relationships with independent foodbanks operating in Glasgow.
“Having recently been approached by them expressing an urgent need for food I personally felt that the best thing to do, for those living within the communities that their foodbank serves, was to offer some time limited urgent help to ensure local people were not left unreached and unsupported.
“Our primary concern is ensuring nutritionally-balanced food is accessible to local people and we acknowledged that, at the time, the best option for getting food to local people in this part of Glasgow was Greater Maryhill foodbank.
“To that end, a number of our foodbanks from across Scotland have responded generously in recognition of the need local people are experiencing.”
“That situation has obviously now changed. The Trussell Trust has no definite plans to do anything.
“But we will meet with banks in the south east, south west, north east and north west to discuss whether we are in a position to do anything.
“There is a lot of goodwill in the Maryhill area to do something.”