Number of people using foodbanks in Glasgow increases
More than 20,000 Glaswegians had to rely on emergency supplies from foodbanks in the last year, an increase of almost a quarter, latest figures have shown.
More than 20,000 Glaswegians had to rely on emergency supplies from foodbanks in the last year, an increase of almost a quarter, latest figures have shown.
The figures, published by the Trussell Trust, show 21,838 people were dependant on foodbanks in Glasgow for the 2015/16 financial year, 6,000 more than Edinburgh. It means that Glasgow had the highest number of people reliant on 3 day emergency food supplies in Scotland.
North Lanarkshire, where Scotland’s only new foodbank was opened, had the biggest percentage increase in use of foodbanks compared to the previous year as it rose by 121%. East Dunbartonshire also saw an increase of nearly 20%.
The figures show that Scottish foodbanks are at a record high, having almost doubled in use over the space of two years, with 133,726 people using them.
The Scotland Network Manager for the Trussell Trust Ewan Gurr said: “The figures released today highlight an alarming number of people hitting a crisis and being unable to buy food.
“We encourage our policy makers to listen to those using foodbanks and learn from their experiences. This way we can ensure the right changes are prioritised to help reduce the hunger and poverty we see in foodbanks every day.”
The study also showed that there were many reasons for people using foodbanks, with the most common problem being a delay in benefits. Low income and other benefit problems are other issues people faced.
Mr Gurr said: “The main increase has been the numbers on low incomes, which is leaving people without enough to live on. In addition to that, almost half of referrals in Scotland are due to benefit-related difficulty.”
Paul, from Dundee, relies on foodbanks and said: “I was living on under half of the normal benefit and obviously I had to buy food, clothing and toiletries and then, at one point, someone put me in touch with the Trussell Trust. I have been visiting them now for 16 months due to the fact I have been hit with a benefit sanction until 2018.”
Kenny, from Airdrie, who has also used foodbanks due to benefit delays, said: “I went to the foodbank because I wasn’t eating. It’s nice to go down and talk to someone, I know you don’t want to give everyone your problems but the foodbank helps people, it definitely helped me.”
The number of foodbanks has increased year on year from 2011/12 when there were less than 6,000 people using them.