Food banks should never be the norm

BUT FOR NOW, THEY REMAIN VITAL TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN BRITAIN

- Giles Sheldrick

POVERTY across all ages has led to a spike in demand for food banks, but help is at hand.

The indiscriminate nature of the cost-of-living crisis, coupled with mounting household debts, means numbers relying on the generosity of others have hit record levels. Those using hunger help services are both in and out of work and not, as is often thought, families on state benefits.

Renfrewshire Foodbank in Scotland offers three-day parcels to individuals and families in crisis.

Manager Crystal Clayton said: "Our numbers continue to go up - and over the summer period there was a 26% increase in the number of adults we supported and a 46% increase in the number of children, compared to the previous year.

"We see a wide variety of people accessing our services. Every day, these people deal with hardships and challenges.

"One recent example was a 65-yearold man who had worked on the shipyards all his life. He lost his job unexpectedly but is six months from retirement age and cannot find work.

He's currently on £91 per week Universal Credit, which just does not stretch far enough.

"He's counting down the days until he can draw his pension and afford the essentials.