FEARS OVER COST OF LIVING RISE
As the conflict in Ukraine makes already spiralling energy costs look worse, there is a warning that even more families are going to have to rely on help from Lochaber Foodbank in the coming months, as increasing energy prices collide with other rises in the general costs of living.
Foodbank manager Alex McConachie told the Lochaber Times on Friday that year-on-year rises in the number of people needing assistance looks like it will continue, with 1,300 people already needing help since April last year.
In the first five months after the foodbank opened in 2013 it fed 157 people which included 42 children, and, over the course of 2020, a 31 per cent increase on the previous year saw it feed 1,843 people, including 482 children.
Mr McConachie said: ‘We always see a slight dip in March onwards until October due to people getting back to work with seasonal jobs, but I feel that may change with the current rise in energy costs and people having to use their wages to cover that cost.
‘Inevitably there will be a shortfall for people and that will affect their food budgets. There is not much give for people to be able to afford this. Wages are the same. Cost of living is higher with national insurance, inflation and, of course, energy bills rising.
‘People in Lochaber – families and individuals working or on benefits – will end up needing us to help them.’
On soaring energy bills, made worse by the fact Lochaber does not have a mains gas supply, the local Citizens Advice Bureau says it can help people
to maximise their income and make sure they are receiving all the relevant benefits.
‘The best thing we can do for people is to help them maximise their income and make sure they are getting all the benefits to which they are entitled,’ said Lochaber CAB manager, Stephen Marshall.
‘Energy costs were rising substantially already and the conflict in Ukraine is not going to help the situation in that regard,’ added Mr Marshall.
‘A big local issue was also the loss of the £20 payment in Universal Credit. What we tend to find, however, is that quite often people are not receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled and that is something we can certainly assist them with.’
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has raised the issue with the Scottish Government and said: ‘The Scottish Labour Party has urged that a windfall tax be applied to oil and gas companies who are making huge profits due to the increase in prices.
‘This would give everyone £200 off their bills, with the hardest hit getting £600. With BP and Shell making £44,000 profit every minute this would be affordable for them while helping those in most need.
‘We have also asked the Scottish Government to freeze rail fares and water charges in Scotland. While the £150 council tax rebate is welcome it is a very blunt instrument and not targeted at those most in need.
‘The situation in Ukraine will of course make matters worse, any global upheaval has knock on impacts everywhere. My thoughts are with those who fear for their own and/or their loved ones lives because of this conflict.’