North Staffordshire foodbanks start to prepare for winter

Foodbanks in parts of North Staffordshire say work has begun to make sure they're able to help everyone coming through their doors this winter.

"We're gonna make sure that the stock is there to meet any increase in demand." said Jane Baker, project co-ordinator at Newcastle Foodbank.

"We are already spending between £300-400 a week adding to our stock, on top of the donations that are coming in, so we've seen an increased food spend on our finances which we're expecting to increase."

It comes as the number of households across the country missing at least one essential payment - like rent, a loan, or credit card bill - rose to 2-point-4 million last month.

Which? says almost three in five households reported making at least one cutback.

"We're putting extra supermarket collections in, but as heating's turned on and we get into winter - we expect more people are going to come through our doors." said Jane.

"People don't have enough income to afford the essentials, whether that's through low wages or through Universal Credit which does not cover the essentials.

"At the moment because Universal Credit does not cover that, that's why we see an increase in our foodbanks - especially so when prices go up."

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