Council to step in to support Colchester Foodbank amid soaring demand
The foodbank has seen a fall in donations amid the cost of living
An Essex council will step in to support a food bank struggling with the cost of living crisis, after concerns supply is failing to keep up with local demand.
The measure is part of a three-point strategy by Colchester Borough Council’s newly-formed cabinet, which was adopted at a meeting last night (July 6).
A council report says Colchester Foodbank, the busiest in the East of England, has “dwindling stock reserves”, with demand having risen by 12 per cent since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supplies having fallen by the same proportion during this period.
Cabinet members warned yesterday the situation will only worsen for many of the borough’s poorest, and many people will be experiencing hardship for the first time to the extent of the crisis.
This comes as Colchester Foodbank CEO Michael Beckett told the local democracy reporting service last month people could die if the UK heads into a cold winter.
A section of the report read: “With rising demand and falling donations, we will intervene immediately to support foodbanks in Colchester and continue to work with partners to ensure demand is met and premises are secure.”
The cabinet has set out a three-point plan which it hopes will combat the cost of living crisis at a local level, aiming to provide crisis support, increase help available and reduce further hardship.
Speaking on the overall plan at the meeting, Labour group leader and portfolio holder for local economy and transformation Adam Fox (Old Heath and the Hythe) said it would be a priority for the council as the crisis worsens.
He said: “As the winter hits later on during the year this is only going to get worse for some people, for some families in the borough.”
In addition to stepping in to support the foodbank, the council will run a campaign targeting people who may not realise they are entitled to support or benefits.
Council leader David King (Lib Dem, Mile End) said: “The paper outlines some of those hard to reach groups, who perhaps for the first time some of them are in a position they’ve never been in before and don’t know where to go or have pride that understandably gets in the way of need.”
Other measures being proposed include hiring a crisis coordinator, who would help the council identify those most in need, and reviewing the local council tax support scheme.
According to the report, the cost of living crisis is likely to further widen inequalities in the borough and will disproportionately affect those on low income.
It says there is a “clear role” for Colchester Borough Council to take in addressing the crisis in collaboration with other councils and public bodies in the region.
This is on top of a package of support introduced by the national government in previous months.
According to an earlier statement by the foodbank, it expects to feed as many as 30,000 people this year.