Oldham foodbank sees rise in locals in crisis

Reporter: Jess Reeves
Date published: 25 April 2019


The demand for emergency food supplies across the UK has risen by nearly 19% since April 2018 to March 2019 according to recent figures.

The data showed that Trussell Trust's network gave away over 1.6 million three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis in the UK. More than half a million of these went to children.

The Oldham Foodbank has also seen a 10% rise in visitors claiming vouchers for food that's donated by local people and supermarkets across the borough.

The foodbank has given away over 4,000 food vouchers to adults and children in need over the last year and is seeing constant demand for the service.

According to the figures, over half of people that are refered to foodbanks such as the Oldham foodbank, that has been running for over 10 years, are due to the changes and delay in benefits being paid, linked to universal credit.

Co-Manager at the Oldham Foodbank, David Jones, said, "The increase is predominantley down to benefit changes but there is also still a large number of people who are in full time employment who are using the food banks because they are sturggling on minimum wage to keep their heads above water."

The Trussell Trust network believe putting an end to the five week delay for universal credit should be the governments first priority to help to create a future without foodbanks.


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