First-time foodbank users find accessing services 'difficult', say staff

Amid a rise in people accessing foodbanks are first-time users who have fallen on hard times.

Covid has either brought on or amplified their financial difficulties, meaning they have been forced to rely on handouts during the pandemic.

That step is a particularly difficult one for them to take, as it can dent one's "pride and self-esteem," say foodbank staff.

But foodbanks have encouraged anyone needing help to come forward as they say "no one" is judged for the predicaments which they face.

Among the foodbanks to see a rise in usage is the Good Shepherd Ministry [GSM], in Wolverhampton.

Tom Hayden, who is head of operations at GSM, said: "It is fair to say that there are very few people who want to access a foodbank.

"The majority of people who come to us do so because they have fallen on difficult times for one reason or another.

"Our service users range from people who are entrenched rough sleepers to those who have lost their jobs or had a relationship breakdown.

"Others might visit us once or twice a month when they have run out of money.

"We have had many people over the last year who have visited us for the first time. They have admitted that they have found it very difficult to do so.

"It has dented their pride and self-esteem. But that is what we are here for, we never judge.

"Helping people to get through difficult times - either on a short or long term basis - is what we aim to do."

A lot of the staff at GSM have been through similar experiences meaning foodbank users will never be judged.

Mr Hayden says his "incredible team of staff" go to work each day to "help people who are going through what they have been through".

"They will always make people feel at ease when they visit the Good Shepherd Ministry," he said.

That message is the same from other foodbanks, including Black Country Food Bank [BCFB], one of the largest in the region.

Although the site is based in Brierley Hill, BCFB works with 25 satellite centres across Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

Jen Coleman, the chief executive at BCFB, said: "We hear many stories from people who have described our services as 'life saving'.

"Even those who have been nervous about contacting us have told us how glad they were to have made the call.

"The financial pressures have been building up.

"There are more people unemployed, more people with high utility bills and more people covering the cost of extra food, as school children are at home.

"All the pressures from the previous lockdowns are still there, but on a much larger scale."

She added: "It is real problem that people can be too proud to access our services.

"We would encourage anyone who needs help to get in touch."

Both foodbanks, alongside Cannock District Foodbank, have thanked generous donations from people to keep them going.

It has seen the best of humanity come together and support vulnerable people, providing them with lifelines, when they may have little other means of help.

Adam Tilsley, project manager at Cannock District Foodbank [CDF], based in Chadsmoor, said: "We would like to thank everyone for all the support and assistance, from the volunteers to everyone donating. It has been valuable, especially in these times."

Mr Hayden, of GSM, said: "We have been so fortunate to receive so much incredible support from the local community, particularly prior to Christmas.

"This was both in the form of food, and also financial donations, which we used to purchase any food that we were short of."

Ms Coleman, of BCFB, added: "We have had so much support from our donors, it has been incredible, donations are still arriving."

But there are concerns going forward that foodbank usage will continue rising while the pandemic carries on.

Ms Coleman believes the social security system, meaning state support, is "not robust enough enough to cope with demand at the moment", she said.

"People just don’t have enough money for food," she said.

Mr Hayden said GSM went down to "one week's supply" of food in August, but they were were helped out after an appeal for donations.

"As we move forward, there may be a situation where we find ourselves short of food," he said.

"But we believe that the way we operate, with the support of the community, means we are in a good position to respond to any challenges that we face."

For more information about GSM, visit gsmwolverhampton.org.uk or for information on BCFB, visit www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk.

For Cannock District Foodbank, visit cannockdistrict.foodbank.org.uk.

Anyone wishing to donate to CDF can do so by visiting Coniston Hall, in Cecil Street, Chadsmoor, on Monday to Friday, between 10am and 3pm.