Are food banks here to stay?
Today we're asking are food banks becoming 'institutions'
Last updated 22nd May 2023
Today we're asking 'will there ever be an end to food banks?'
There's now more of them in the UK than McDonalds and numbers keep growing.
The Government's told us they're providing record financial help to those who need it most'
Greatest Hits Radio has spoken to one man who was told: "I'm not vulnerable enough.
"(They) basically told me I've got to do to the Salvation Army to get a tent."
Although he was getting support the man missed an appointment - which he claims was due to personal issues - and says he is now relying on charities for 'survival.'
Tricia Kirby is a trustee of the 'HITS' food bank and homelessness charity in Teignbridge - which was doing 75 food parcels a week but is now supplying 75 a day.
She says councils and emergency services increasingly rely on them to fill gaps: "The other day Teignmouth Police rang me because there was somebody on the railway station - so I had to come down and get a sleeping bag and a blanket and get some stuff for them and food."
Councillor David Cox is the chair of the HITS or Homeless In Teignbridge Support charity: "We've got massive increases in the cost of living.
"People at the bottom are falling off the edge."
Martin Wrigley is a town, district and county councillor who's campaigning to become the area's next MP, he said: "I don't remember food banks existing in my youth, they weren't around. It's only the last 10 year's they've sprung up.
"I'm absolutely disgusted that such a service is even necessary."
When asked if there was a plan to end the seemingly growing reliance on food banks, a Government spokesperson said: “We are providing record financial help to those who need it most, with a £94bn support package worth on average £3,300 per household - while increasing benefits by 10.1%, supporting people into work and increasing the National Living Wage.”
When asked to outline the actual measures being taken, they explained: "The Government is providing an extra £1bn to extend the Household Support Fund to the end of March 2024, which councils in England can use to help with the cost of household essentials.
"Last month, the Government increased the National Living Wage (NLW) for workers aged 23 years and over by 9.7% to £10.42 - with a full-time worker over the age of 23 seeing their annual earnings rise by more than £1,600. We expect this, alongside an increase to the National Minimum Wage, to give a pay rise to over 2.5 million workers.
"The £1,350 includes £900 worth of Cost of Living support and a further £150 Disability Cost of Living payment specifically for people across the UK on non-means-tested disability benefits, plus a further £300 payment on top of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners at the end of 2023.
"More than 8 million households across the UK have been paid their first £301 Cost of Living Payment for 2023/24, continuing our support for vulnerable families with financial pressures."