Southend Foodbank reports sharp rise in demand
Over the last year there's even been a 67% increase in people of pension age relying on the service for essentials
Southend Foodbank has reported a significant increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed over the past year, revealing the growing struggle of local residents to afford basic necessities.
The food bank provided 20,491 emergency food parcels to people in Southend City and Rochford, including over 8,000 to children, marking a 36% increase compared to the previous year.
Cass Francis, Communications and Campaigns Coordinator at Southend Foodbank, highlighted the stark increase in demand.
"The national figures released by the Trussell Trust show that 3.1 million people received food parcels in the UK last year. In Southend and Rochford alone, we distributed 20,491 emergency food parcels, which is a 36% increase on last year," Cass stated.
A notable rise in the number of older people seeking assistance has been observed, with referrals for individuals over 65 increasing by 67%.
"We have seen a 67% jump in the number of over 65s being referred to us. Many of these individuals are coming to us for the first time, which indicates that the cracks in our social security system are widening, causing more people to fall through,"
Cass provided insight into why more older individuals are turning to the food bank for help. "A lot of older people have a very stoic mindset, often being reluctant to ask for help. However, we are now seeing pensioners who never imagined they would need a food bank coming to us because their pensions simply aren't enough to cover their living costs," she said.
She further elaborated on the challenges faced by the elderly, mentioning that many might not be receiving all the benefits they are entitled to. "Even if older people did receive all their entitled benefits, it still wouldn't be a substantial amount. We have one of the lowest state pension levels in Europe. The reality is that everything costs so much now. When you have huge electricity, gas, and water bills, even the most frugal individuals find it impossible to make ends meet," Cass added.
The growing visibility of food banks as a necessary resource is both a positive and a negative development, according to Cass. "It's good that more pensioners feel they can come to us for help, but it's a real shame that they have to. We should be a small-scale operation helping out occasionally, not a large-scale necessity. The fact that we are seeing more older people now is a clear indicator of the failing social security system that needs urgent reform," she concluded.
The food bank's busiest month was December 2023, during which 2,360 parcels were distributed. Over the past five years, the number of parcels provided by Southend Foodbank has quadrupled, from 5,212 in 2018/2019 to 20,491 this year. Despite the dedication of volunteers, the rising need has placed a significant strain on the food bank's resources.
"Last year, we were spending £10,000 a month just to supplement the donations we received. Now, donations account for only about 45% of the food we distribute, and we have to purchase the rest," Cass noted. The food bank frequently has to buy basic items such as pasta and beans due to insufficient donations, and currently faces severe shortages in essential vegetables.
The Trussell Trust, which oversees a network of food banks including Southend Foodbank, is calling for urgent reforms to the social security system. The trust advocates for the introduction of an 'Essentials Guarantee' in Universal Credit to ensure everyone has enough to afford life's basics.
"We need an essentials guarantee, a minimum amount of money that someone can live on, free from deductions for debts owed to the government," Cass emphasized.
Emma Revie, Chief Executive of the Trussell Trust, stressed the need for systemic change. "It's 2024 and we're facing historically high levels of food bank need. As a society, we cannot allow this to continue. We must not let food banks become the new norm," Revie said. The trust has released a manifesto outlining crucial actions for the next UK Government to support those in need and reduce dependency on food banks.
What does the government say?
The Government said its cost-of-living support package had prevented 1.3 million people falling into poverty in 2022-23 and reiterated that it had uprated benefits, raised the state pension and was "raising the National Living Wage, cutting taxes and driving down inflation while investing billions through our Back to Work Plan".