3,000 people in Yorkshire turning to food banks
Almost 3,000 people in Yorkshire and Humberside have been forced to turn to food banks over the past six months, new figures reveal.
Data from the Trussell Trust, the country's largest organiser of food banks, shows 1,838 adults and 1,036 children in the region received emergency food between April and September.
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Some 2,874 people in Yorkshire and Humberside needed emergency food aid in the past six months
The figures, released to coincide with World Food Day, reveal nationally 109,294 adults and children in the UK received emergency food aid between April and September. This compares with a total of 128,697 in the whole of 2011-12.
The 2,874 people in Yorkshire and Humberside turning to food banks over the past six months compares to 2,402 in the North East; 13,947 in the West Midlands; 15,015 in London and 20,988 in the South West.
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Trussell Trust Executive Chairman Chris Mould said: “Day in, day out, food banks already meet UK parents who are going without food to feed their children, or are forced to consider stealing to stop their children going to bed hungry.
“Further rises in food and fuel bills could see even more people in crisis turn to food banks.
“Many low-income working families are living on a knife edge. This rise in food prices could be enough to tip them into poverty, especially as winter approaches and heating costs increase.
“Christmas is looking bleak for thousands of UK families.”
The trust, which runs more than 260 food banks nationally, operates a voucher system, whereby care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police identify people in crisis and issue them with a food bank voucher.
Those in need bring their voucher to a food bank centre, where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food.
Food packages consist of items such as UHT or powdered milk, soup, pasta, tinned meat and biscuits.
More than 90 per cent of the food given out by food banks is donated by the public. Some 875.1 tonnes of food were donated between April and September, the trust figures show.
Food bank volunteers meet clients over a cup of tea or a free hot meal, and direct them to agencies equipped to solve their longer-term problem.
The trust, which has launched more than 260 food banks nationally, predicts it will feed 200,000 people between 2012 and 2013.
This compares to 26,000 fed nationwide in 2008-09; 41,000 in 2009-10; 61,468 in 2010-11 and 128,697 in 2011-12.
The majority of those who used food banks between April and September this year were aged 25 to 64, followed by 16 to 24 and over-65.
Most – some 34,606 - cited a delay in their benefits as the main reason for turning to a food bank. Some 18,451 cited low income, while 14,392 said benefit changes were the primary cause.
Less than 5 per cent of food bank clients are homeless, the Trussell Trust says. “Many are working families struggling to make ends meet,” it says.
To find out more, visit www.trusselltrust.org.
Comments
by DwaynneCarr
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 7:18PM
“I know from my experience back in the day of the European food mountain you could get free butter and cheese and tinned mince. It was all top notch grub (it wasn't but beggars can't be choosers) the butter was like axle grease, cheese rubber and the mince dog food. So avoid food banks.
On another note I recall a few years back a glut of pot noodles, from unknown origin flooding the market. They were also of very poor quality. The "beef" tasted and resembled plastic. I think it was a Maoist plot to slowly poison the young of our country.”
by GCtheDJ
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 7:01PM
“Am i right in thinking that this is how a food bank works.... You put in what you can, say a meat pie, a couple of tins of rice pudding and a pound of bananas, leave them in for a few months and they earn a can of garden peas when you get them all out? Or am i thinking of something different and more surreal? Ouch!! (Slapped myself right in the face).”
by GP200
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 6:50PM
“we had a healthy meal for tea - cost £1.70 for 2. It consisted of 2 tins of Heinz Minestrone Soup @ 50p per tin = £1 and then a baguette or french stick @ 70p, total cost £1.70. It was hot and really did fill us. We often try and feed ourselves for less than a £1 it works most of the time. The meals are all nutritious and healthy. You can buy small meat pies for 50p each, a bag of mixed veg for £1 and a bag of Spuds for £1. veg and spuds is enough to feed 2 for 2 meals, so there fore meat pie 50p and veg and spuds work out at 50p =£1 for a meal for one. Theres loads of bargains out there if you are prepared to make a meal instead of buying ready made junk food!! Even tin of Fray Bentos Steak Pie is £1 enough for 2-3 servings. Try having Porridge in the morning filling and good for you and its a good start to the day, lots of roughage etc. We have even made a meal for 2 for less than a £1.”
by GP200
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 6:45PM
“we had a healthy meal for tea - cost £1.70 for 2. It consisted of 2 tins of Heinz Minestrone Soup @ 50p per tin = £1 and then a baguette or french stick @ 70p, total cost £1.70. It was hot and really did fill us. We often try and feed ourselves for less than a £1 it works most of the time. The meals are all nutritious and healthy. You can buy small meat pies for 50p each, a bag of mixed veg for £1 and a bag of Spuds for £1. veg and spuds is enough to feed 2 for 2 meals, so there fore meat pie 50p and veg and spuds work out at 50p =£1 for a meal for one. Theres loads of bargains out there if you are prepared to make a meal instead of buying ready made junk food!! Even tin of Fray Bentos Steak Pie is £1 enough for 2-3 servings. Try having Porridge in the morning filling and good for you and its a good start to the day, lots of roughage etc. We have even made a meal for 2 for less than a £1.”
by CarmellaBrown
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 6:40PM
“89,762”
by LeeH1
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 5:30PM
“How many people in london have to return to food banks?”