'Don't be embarrassed or wait until you're destitute before asking for help' pleads food bank

Councillor David Cox, the chair of Homeless In Teignbridge Support or HITS food bank, says people shouldn’t be ashamed to fall on hard times and need help.

The food bank has now made it easier for people to get help when they initially ask - rather than following a process of referrals - after seeing a rise in demand, particularly from previously seemingly well-off families.

He said: "The pandemic has made us have to change things, because actually many people were not used to making claims and getting referrals.

"They are waiting until they're absolutely destitute before then asking for help and so what we're now saying is that HITS will provide a food parcel immediately as somebody needs them.

"The subsequent help that we give - more food parcels, help with gas and electric bills - will be done on a referral basis. But the initial first food pack will be done on demand.

"I think a lot of people are not used to making claims, most people are used to being employed all of their lives.

"They carry on with their life as normal and it's only when they realise there's no money left that they say I need some help and some people are quite embarrassed about having to come for help but they shouldn't be.

"They've paid into the system and we're here to help people because we know people fall on hard times just through bad luck - not because of any other reason.

"Not because of fecklessness, not because of any morale failing. Just bad luck and especially with the pandemic now we're seeing more and more people in that situation and the other thing is the five week wait for universal credit is really debilitating for people.

"Keeping going for five weeks without money is quite serious."

For more about HITS Teignbridge and the support it can offer click here

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