AM praises foodbanks for support

AN anti-poverty charity supplied 48,571 three-day emergency food supplies in Wales between April and September – a rise of 13% compared to the same six-month period last year.

In Gower alone, 3,258 three-day emergency food supplies were provided by the Trussell Trust Foodbank to people in crisis, 1,138 of which were for children.

Gower AM Rebecca Evans said: “The Trussell Trust statistics are a stark reminder of how many people in Gower and across Wales are still very much in need of foodbanks – and they reveal that the number is continuing to grow. These facts are a shocking indictment of the UK Government’s austerity agenda.”

The top four reasons for referral to a foodbank in The Trussell Trust network from April to September 2018 were low income – benefits, not earning, benefit delay, benefit change and debt.

The AM added: “This raises further questions about the chaos of the rolling out of Universal Credit, and the concern of how it will negatively affect claimants over the winter months and beyond.

“Once again, it’s the people who have the least who are being hit the hardest. There should be no need for anyone to have to rely on foodbanks, but in these difficult times I am very grateful that they are there to help.

“I wholeheartedly thank the many volunteers who, week in week out, give of their time and resources to meet the needs of our communities.”