Why food banks are more vital than ever

The number of people turning to them for help is continuing to rise with new figures showing tens of thousands of parcels were given out across the region by one charity in just 12 months.

The country's biggest food bank provider, The Trussell Trust,handed out almost 16,000 boxes of three-day supply packages from its seven bases in the Black Country, Staffordshire and Wyre Forest.

This was an increase of eight and a half per cent compared with the previous 12 months with charity bosses saying the use of its food banks across the country is at a record high.

During 2015/16, a total of 15,998 packages containing non-perishable tinned and dried foods were given to adults and children from The Trussell Trust's seven sites.

A typical food parcel includes cereal, soup, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, beans, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tea,coffee, sugar and biscuits. All of the goods have been donated by the community.

The highest number of food parcels given out in the Black Country was at the food bank at Holy Trinity Church, Smethwick. Volunteers provided 5,855 parcels during 2015.

Gareth Brown, project director at Smethwick Church Action Network who manage the food bank, said: "When local churches in Smethwick first got together back in January 2012 we, perhaps naively, hoped that our provision of emergency food parcels would not last for too long.

"Here we are though over four years later seeing significant increases in demand year on year.

"Food banks are sadly more vital than ever and we are so grateful to the people of Smethwick and beyond for their generosity and hope that we can continue to offer the best possible service for local people facing a crisis."

Smethwick councillor Richard Marshall described the situation as 'desperately shocking'. "The people who use food banks aren't just poor people, they are the working poor who go out to try to earn a living but can't afford to feed their kids," he said.

Volunteers at Baxter Church Hall in Kidderminster gave out 2,766 parcels during the past year. The bank is run by around 50 volunteers and is open three days a week. As well as emergency food, it provides people with essentials such as washing powder, nappies and hygiene products.

Manager Maureen Lewis said although he overall amount of supplies given out had reduced compared with the previous year, the team had seen an increase in the number of single mothers, single parent aged under-24 and elderly people requesting help.

"Last week we had a young mum left to bring up two small children under two on her own and a father of two who suddenly found himself unemployed and having to wait for his benefits to be updated - that's just two out of many who come to the food bank every week.

"That's why the food bank is so vital. We are very grateful for the ongoing support of the community, and hope that one day there will be need for us. But until that day comes, we will continue to offer the best possible service to help local people facing crisis," said Mrs Lewis.

During the past year, 34 tonnes of food was donated to the food bank by local schools, businesses and faith groups.

Visitors to the food bank said they were grateful for the help. Among them was Keith Barker, who is homeless but managing to stay with friends. He said he was grateful for the lifeline.

Another visitor, who give his name as John, said a delay in receiving benefits had led to him needing help. "I was on a tight budget and running my own business selling items on eBay and at car boot sales but then I had to stop work. Due to changes to my benefits and I am still waiting for the money. I don't want to be here but I am glad the food banks is here. It is doing a lot of good for people who need it.

Elsewhere volunteers gave out 1,255 packs at St Boniface Church, Quinton; 1,052 at St Bernard's Church, Great Barr and 943 at Pelsall Methodist Church, Walsall.

In Staffordshire 2,676 boxes of supplies were given out at Pye Green Christian Centre, Cannock and 1,448 at Rugeley Community Centre.

National figures released by the Trussell Trust show that more than 1.1 million units of emergency supplies were given out by the charity in the last year.

Chief executive David McAuley said: "We also need to ensure that people on low incomes or in insecure work have enough to live on.

"The introduction of a national living wage is a great start, but more can be done for those in low paid work and unable to work. We need to listen to the experiences of people facing hunger and poverty, and work to find solutions to this problem."

There was a two per cent increase in three-day supplies provided to people from its network of 424 food banks in the 2015/16 financial year.

More than 415,000 went to children, while on average people were referred to food banks twice in the past year.