King's Lynn foodbank warn government's current plan to tackle energy won't be enough
Liz Truss announced last week she would be capping the amount households pay at ÂŁ2,500 a year
Last updated 20th Sep 2022
King's Lynn foodbank are warning that the Government's current plan to tackle rising energy prices- won't be enough to help many pay their bills, this winter.
This comes not long after our local MP Liz Truss announced- she would be capping the amount households pay at ÂŁ2,500 a year and providing similar support to businesses.
"We gave out 120% more help this year, compared to the same period last year"
Helen Gilbert is their project manager.
"It is not going to meet current demands as it stands- and that is what's concerning me. Once people starting switching on our heating in the winter, it is going to be very, very hard for a number of people in our community".
She says demand on them is growing and growing:
"Energy prices have already increased and the price cap is going on at what is a high level already. We as a food bank give out energy help in terms of small vouchers- and over the three summer months we gave out 120% more help this year, compared to the same period last year".
"Food bank across the country are going to see an unprecedented demand this winter, the six months of last winter from October to March- King's Lynn Foodbank fed just over 2,000 people- I predict that it's going to be at least 1,000 people more than this, even with the current rate of energy".
She's calling on the new administration to help find permanent solutions:
"I just hope that the Government are indeed putting in place long-term solutions to this, rather than it just being crisis management. The Government are very used to this after the pandemic, but we don't just need short term fixes, we need long-term fixes because poverty in this country isn't going away".
What has the Government said in response to this?
The Prime Minister says they are no cost-free options to this problem and her government are prioritising long-term energy security