Chancellor "must prioritise struggling families" say Staffordshire foodbanks

Some of Staffordshire's most utilised foodbanks say the Chancellor must provide more support for struggling families as a matter of urgency.

• 56% of people receiving Universal Credit ran out of food last month and couldn’t afford more.
• 60,700 people claiming Universal Credit have needed to use a food bank in the last month.
• Over half (53%) of people claiming Universal Credit are either behind on bills and credit commitments or are finding it a constant struggle to keep up with them.
• 258,000 people claiming Universal Credit (40%) have fallen into debt because they couldn’t keep up with essential bills.

Research conducted on behalf of the Trussell Trust, revealed that in the West Midlands 60,700 people, 9% of those claiming Universal Credit, have been forced to use a food bank in the last month (Dec 23/Jan 24), and more than half (56%) ran out of food in that time period and couldn’t afford any more.

"People are struggling to cope as this gets worse."

Corrine Boden, MBE, Director of Services Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank, comments further on this situation, “People who come in to our food bank centres are telling us that they are scared.

"It’s a terrible combination of many things, the rise in the price of fuel, food and essentials; bills, rent and the fact that benefits (often use to top up low working incomes) are not reflecting the actual cost of living in this country, and have not done for a long time."

New data, from Trussell Trust commissioned research, further demonstrates the need for stronger, lasting support for those on the lowest incomes and the Chancellor must prioritise support for these people in the Spring Budget, including an extension of the Household Support Fund, which has been a lifeline for thousands of people within the city that have been hit by high or unexpected costs.’

"In Stoke-on-Trent almost half of children are living in poverty."

Jane Baker, Newcastle (Staffs) Foodbank said: “Many of the people we support at Newcastle-Staffs Foodbank are in receipt of Universal Credit, finding that it is just not enough to last until the next payment.

"We are here to provide food in an emergency, but we are increasingly seeing people once a month when the money runs out. In the words of one person who needed our help ‘By week three, things are tight, by week four, there is nothing left’. Universal Credit simply doesn’t provide enough to cover the basic essentials we all need to survive and it’s not right that people are in this position."

Nicola Shaw, Pathfinder Lead Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank explains how Stoke-on-Trent Foodbank is working to support the large number of people needing to access foodbanks locally.

“We work as part of a larger network of support; our voucher referral system is designed so referrals are made via a frontline professional, who will also support and signpost the person for help with other aspects of their crisis.

"On average guests attend the foodbank 1.43 times which demonstrates that our food parcels work as emergency food supplies.

"Our data shows us that when people on the lowest incomes receive cost of living payments, we see a decrease in the number of emergency food parcels distributed – this tells us that people are spending the money on essentials, and this additional income can make the difference.”

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