1409 emergency food parcels given to local people last year, Basildon Foodbank reveals

Basildon Foodbank provided 1409 three day emergency food parcels to local people between April 2018 to March 2019. Of this number, 567 went to children.

The local food bank’s figures feed into a larger national picture with a record increase in food bank use across the nation reported by the Trussell Trust.

Basildon Foodbank is backing calls from the Trussell Trust to ensure the benefits system is able to protect people from poverty.

The figures from Basildon Foodbank are a 93.5% increase on the same period last year. The charity believes the local increase is due to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments; issues with Universal Credit such as the five-week wait; insecure work; lack/reduction in available local government support.

Basildon Foodbank shares the concerns of other food banks in the Trussell Trust’s network about Universal Credit – it is not the only benefit payment people referred to the food bank have experienced problems with, but the issues faced by local people moving onto the new system are significant. The food bank has needed to give emergency food and support to people who are waiting at least five-weeks for a first Universal Credit payment, not able to access support or receiving payments that don’t cover the cost of essentials.

Pastor Victor Oladele of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Majesty Connections situated in Pitsea, food bank manager of Basildon Foodbank said “No one in Basildon should need a food bank’s help and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all. It doesn’t have to be this way – our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty. Universal Credit should be part of the solution but currently, the five-week wait is leaving many without enough money to cover the basics. This isn’t right.

“Until we reach a future where food banks are no longer needed, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most. We’re dedicated to ensuring that people in our community without enough money for food are able to access emergency support. Our vital work in the community has only been possible in the last year because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds. Thank you.”

The running costs for the food bank are raised locally to enable them to continue their work. Costs include distribution center space, to sort and stock food, a van to pick up donated food and deliver to distribution centers, and other overheads like utilities and insurances. The food bank welcomes any new offers of help with funding – local businesses, organizations and individuals interested in supporting the food bank’s work can find out more at https://basildon.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/

ENDS

Contact:

Pastor Victor Oladele, Basildon Foodbank Manager can be reached on [email protected]

Notes to Editor

Basildon Foodbank:

• Basildon Foodbank has been providing three days emergency food and support to local people since 2013.
• 5 tonnes of food were donated by the local community between April 2018 – March 2019
• For more info, visit https://basildon.foodbank.org.uk
• Basildon Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network. For UK-wide Trussell Trust food bank statistics visit https://www.trusselltrust.org/news-and-blog/latest-stats/ .

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