Thousands turning to foodbank for help

Oldham Foodbank manager Andrew Barr: “It’s a sad reflection of the current situation”

MORE than 5,300 emergency food packages were handed out by Oldham foodbank last year, figures reveal.

The latest findings by the Trussell Trust — which runs the foodbanks — show 5,334 packages of three days’ emergency food were prvided in 2014, compared to 4,992 in 2013.

Foodbank use hit a million for the first time nationwide - more than in any previous year.

Last year, 45 tonnes of food was donated to Oldham foodbank. Despite signs of economic recovery, the number of people turning to foodbanks continues to grow.

At the Oldham foodbank, the top three reasons for referral are benefit delay (35 per cent of all referrals), benefit change (23 per cent) and low income (18 per cent). Other reasons include debt, unemployment and homelessness.

Everyone who visits a foodbank is referred by a professional such as a social worker, health visitor or school liaison officer.

On average, 49 per cent of foodbank users only needed one foodbank voucher in a year and only 15 per cent needed help more than three times in a year.

The figures for the North-West are the highest in the country, with 157,248 packages of food handed out last year.

Andrew Barr, who runs the Oldham foodbank, said: “It’s a sad reflection of the current situation that a lot of people are having to come to the foodbank.”