Stamford and Oundle Foodbank and Rutland Foodbank report rise in demand as cost of living crisis adds to Universal Credit cut and end of furlough
Charities which offer emergency food parcels say they are seeing an even greater demand for their services as the cost of living crisis deepens.
An increase in the energy cap in April brought a steep rise in electricity bills, further stretching household budgets already struggling to cope with big hikes in the cost of fuel and food.
Rutland Foodbank has taken steps by retaining its home delivery model, brought in during the pandemic, so people can avoid driving to collect their food and limit their petrol and diesel use.
“Since the changes in the energy cap we have started to notice a trend of new clients or returning clients,” explained Rutland Foodbank chairman Ali Wainwright.
“Those who have managed to keep their heads above water until now, but are having to return.
“We also noticed an upturn when Universal Credit uplift was taken off and also when the furlough scheme ended so it’s been a tough year.”
Trussell Trust, which co-ordinates a national network of foodbanks, including Stamford, Oundle, Rutland and Bourne, last week revealed its annual figures for the 12 months up to April and reported a 14 per cent increase in food parcels nationally.
“That figure is probably nearer 10 per cent in Stamford, but every week we see more people coming to the foodbank,” said Sian Fytche, operations manager for Stamford and Oundle Foodbank.
“We started to see an increase in people coming in for food parcels from December, and that has just ramped up in the last six to eight weeks.
“We have also seen a much higher percentage of people coming in that have never used a foodbank before.”
Another new trend is the number of working people visiting foodbanks.
Stamford Foodbank is considering introducing an evening opening to make it easier for them to visit their West Street base.
“That’s a group of people that we probably haven’t seen before,” said Sian.
“Last week we helped a household of two adults and a grown-up child who still couldn’t make ends meet because of the increases in fuel and food.
“We had another gentleman who said when it comes to the last week of the month they are struggling no matter how careful they are.
“People that are working should be able to afford food, but we are seeing this at the moment. And we’re not expecting that to slow down any time soon because the cost of living is getting greater all the time.”
Rutland made 704 deliveries of 38,301 meal ingredients in the 12 months up to April which helped to feed 1,811 people, 800 of them children.
The figures are down slightly on the previous year - which bore the full brunt of the pandemic - but still more than three times higher than the 12,492 meals handed out in 2019-20.
The figures were similar in Stamford and Oundle where 1,758 people needed emergency food parcels, 537 of them children.
“With the removal of the £20 from Universal Credit allied to the massive increases in the cost of living it’s not surprising that people are forced to come to a charity for food,” said Sian.
“The demographic of Stamford is not what we consider to be a deprived town, and Oundle is a similar demographic, but we are seeing a similar pattern in both.”
Another huge rise in fuel bills is expected in October when the energy cap is predicted to rise again, by as much as 32 per cent.
Ali believes there is little many can do to save for it.
“The sadness is that so many people we are helping have no control over things,” she said.
“There are some who think these people just need to pull their socks up, but it’s not like that.
“They are juggling furiously. They are making choices daily to keep their heads above water.”
At Stamford and Oundle they are coming to the end of a scheme to help the most vulnerable with financial support for heating through donations from foodbank supporters.
“We’ve heard a lot recently about people choosing food or heating, but that is absolutely a reality,” Sian said.
Another key focus at Stamford and Oundle this year is giving people help with recipes and advice on making nutritious meals to make the best use of the ingredients and prevent waste.
Despite the strain on all household budgets, donations of food and household goods remain healthy at both foodbanks, as are financial donations.
Alongside essentials such as UHT milk, toilet rolls and tinned meat, microwaveable meals are also proving welcome donations.
“People are telling us they are afraid to put their cookers on because of the costs,” Ali explained.
“So we are trying to get people a range of things that are nutritious but don’t take a lot of heating. We will always try to match the food deliveries to the clients.”
Anyone in need is asked to get in touch before the situation becomes urgent.
“We have had people ringing us with virtually nothing in the house to eat,” Ali added.
“People must get help if they need it. Don’t wait until you are desperate. There is no shame - it’s not your fault.”
