Spalding foodbanks says it is providing emergency parcels to people on ongoing basis

People struggling to make ends meet are now taking emergency food parcels on an ongoing basis say organisers.

Volunteers who man the Spalding Agape Care Foodbank say they have seen an increase in the number of people seeking help as the high energy and rental costs bite.

The organisation initially aimed to provide non-perishable food for three days to people in crisis.

But Eileen Davies says that things have got so bad for some people that they are needing help on a longer basis.

She said: “We are seeing people coming on a more ongoing situation in emergency crisis on a longer term.

“I would say that people are struggling with rent and now with the energy crisis on top of that, it is leaving so little for food.”

Mrs Davies said that Agape has given out nearly 100 parcels in the last month and a further 40 smaller parcels.

She added that a mixture of people are using the foodbank, including those who are in work and on zero hour contracts.

But she fears that the things will get worse when the Government’s price cap for energy costs ends in April next year under new chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s reforms - 18 months earlier than the disastrous mini budget announced by his predecessor Kwasi Kwarteng in September.

Mrs Davies said: “The rising cost of rents is one of the big issues for people to survive. Once they have paid that there is such a little amount to live on.

“The rent issue has been ongoing for a long time, talking about £100 for a room - it is a scandal.

“We have seen an increase of homeless people coming in.

“Looking at what has been happening with the Chancellor and Liz Truss and the fact that the energy cap is going to be removed next April, I think we are all going to struggle as it is going up to £4,000.”

Yesterday it was announced that inflation has shot up to 10.1% as a result of rising food prices.

Mrs Davies said: “With the food banks we are have to bear the brunt of inflation.

“A tin of soup had cost 50p last year but now it is £1.19 (Heniz soup in B&M Bargains).

“You can imagine what that does to our budgets.”

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