Use of Southampton's foodbanks is so far up 10% this year, while charity The Trussell Trust reports that its national network of 400 foodbanks saw a 13% increase from April 2017 to March 18, with emergency food supplies going to 484,026 children.
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The previous year The Trussell Trust said the increase was 6.64%.
Southampton’s foodbanks, known as Basics Banks, are managed by Southampton City Mission.
Basics Bank manager Dave Osborne, left, said: “We’re seeing an average of 880 people a month at the moment, so that’s up 10% [since January] on what was the busiest year ever, which was 2017, where we did [just] shy of 10,000 food parcels.”
Treading water
He said supplies of food “could always be better” but that while they are “running low”, the foodbanks are “treading water”.
“If anyone’s able to help with food donations that would be great. We’ve got collection points in Sainsbury’s superstores across the city… Lordshill, Hedge End, Portswood and Shirley and they can take it to foodbanks or other collection points.”
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of The Trussell Trust, said: “It’s hard to break free from hunger if there isn’t enough money coming in to cover the rising cost of absolute essentials like food and housing. For too many people staying above water is a daily struggle. It’s completely unacceptable that anyone is forced to turn to a foodbank as a result.
“Universal Credit is the future of our benefits system. It’s vital we get it right, and ensure levels of payment keep pace with the rising cost of essentials, particularly for groups of people we know are already more likely to need a foodbank – disabled people, people dealing with an illness, families with children and single parents.”
• City Mission operates its Basics Bank from The Old Chemist, Bitterne Park Triangle on Wednesdays. You can donate much needed food and clothing from 10am-3pm, which will be distributed across the network of Basics Banks as required. Tinned food, dry foods like pasta, jars of sauces etc are especially welcomed.
• You can read more about The Trussell Trust’s figures here. Their release is accompanied by the publication of Left Behind: Is Universal Credit Truly Universal? , a new report into Universal Credit and foodbank use published today. The Trust says the findings, from a survey of 284 people on UC referred to foodbanks, show “the adverse impact of the initial wait, the lack of available statutory support, the inability of UC payments to cover the cost of living for people who most need it, and poor administration”.
Previously
City’s Clothes Bank moves to Bitterne Park
Video: Behind-the-scenes look at Southampton's food banks