Wansbeck Valley Food Bank warns of spiralling poverty as demand soars
Northumberland’s largest independent food bank says it has reached crisis point as poverty levels spiral out of control due to the rise in the cost of living.
Wansbeck Valley Food Bank is facing unprecedented demand for its service to those living in poverty or financial hardship in south east Northumberland.
Demand has risen by nearly 10% over the past 12 months and the Morpeth-based organisation has provided enough food for 112,000 meals to people in desperate need. It now supplies emergency food parcels for around 600 people a week.
The rise in energy costs has led to many people not being able to heat their homes so the food bank is now providing hot water bottles, as well as tents and sleeping bags to an increasing number of homeless people in the area.
Wansbeck Valley Food Bank says it is facing its biggest challenge yet and is appealing for more donations to help them meet demand as the cost of living crisis bites hard this winter.
Operations manager Linda Fugill said: “Demand for our service has gone up year on year since the food bank was established in 2013 and we have never known such a desperate situation.
“The rise in the cost of living is placing pressure on our service and forcing people to turn to the food bank to survive. People who were just about managing before the cost of living crisis are now using food banks as they have slipped into food poverty.
“We are absolutely and totally committed to relieving food poverty but Christmas is going to increase demand and we just don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel because people simply don’t have enough money and food is so expensive.
“Pay freezes for many workers and the switch to universal credit, where people face a five-week delay after applying, are having a terrible impact on people. Food banks are supposed to be an emergency service, but we are now propping up the welfare state.
“We would like to see the Government to take urgent action to boost the incomes of people unable to afford food, heating and other essentials.”
While the cost of living has pushed up demand, Wansbeck Valley Food Bank is worried about a fall in donations as people struggle to put food on their own table let alone help others.
The food bank receives donations thanks to the generosity of individuals, groups, schools, churches and local organisations. It also has supermarket collections. Care professionals, such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and Citizens Advice Bureau staff, amongst others, identify people in crisis and issue them with a Food Bank referral form.
Food bank coordinator Tracey Brown added: “The whole country has reached crisis point so everyone is feeling the pinch and people who once donated perhaps a bagful of shopping, have had to reduce or even stop their donation as they simply cannot afford to help in the way they once would.
“What makes it even more heart-breaking is that they apologise to our volunteers for not having the spare money to help. That is a terrible reflection on the crisis taking place in this country.
• Between 01/10/2020 and 30/09/2021, Wansbeck Valley Food Bank provided 102,912 meals and between 01/10/2021 and 30/09/2022 it provided 112,287 meals – an increase of 9.2%.