More working families needing food bank support in Derbyshire

A Derbyshire charity says it's "not surprised" by new figures that suggest the number of working people reaching out to food banks is on the rise.

Around sixty per cent of workers questioned in a survey say they've used one in the last year due to the cost of living crisis.

Derby's Food 4 Thought Alliance has seen around around a quarter more people reach out for help from the organisation this year.

Paul Brookhouse, manager of the Alliance, says demand is outweighing supply: "We're having a mix of issues around the supply. Naturally, because of the impact of the cost of living, the war in Ukraine and energy costs, donations are less than they were - plus the cost of food has gone up so we are spending around ten thousand pounds a month on food. It's money we don't really have.

"There are two areas where we have seen the biggest increase in people asking for help. The first is in working families where somebody is in work but their money doesn't stretch far enough, then secondly is the older generation."

Paul says there are lots of ways people can help: "We always say don't worry if all you can give is one tin, as everything makes a difference. People can also give financially if they are able to or they can give their time to help."