Cambridgeshire foodbanks bracing for high demand this summer
A higher turnout of people is expected during the school holidays
The school summer holidays are on their way, but in Cambridgeshire, that could mean more families turning up at foodbanks.
In the UK last year, more than 11.3 million people faced hunger according to the Trussell Trust which runs the Ely Foodbank group.
And last month, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that almost six million low-income households either skipped or cut down on meals because they can't afford food.
Jenny Webb is a trustee at the Ely Foodbank group:
“I think in peak times, we can expect up to about 25 families or individuals coming in each week but we do need to have sufficient food donated to be able to meet those needs,” she said.
“Supplies in the stores have gone down as the need has gone up, but we’re still fortunate people have put donations in the food boxes in supermarkets so we collect those every week.”
Research from the Department of Work and Pensions found that in 2021/22, 4.7 million people in the UK were in food insecure households.
Since last year, more than £1.8 million worth of supermarket vouchers were given by Cambridgeshire County Council to families in need to help tackle poverty in the county.
Jenny feels that those who are not able to help their children through the likes of free school meals may have to rely on food banks more often.
But she offered this advice:
“The Citizens Advice workers are very helpful in trying to help them manage their financial situation,” she added.
“If you have a crisis and suddenly need a new cooker and you haven’t got spare money, you perhaps do need to get some help with food.
“People who aren’t eligible for free school meals have got to finance their children through the holidays and that’s a big pressure, so I think we can expect an increase in need for food bank.”