Between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018, 3,887 three-day emergency food supplies were provided to local people in crisis by Bradford North Foodbank, compared to 3,050 in the previous year, a 27% increase. 1,522 (39%) of the people we fed were children.
The foodbank, a member of The Trussell Trust’s network which has today reported a UK-wide increase in foodbank use, believes the local increase is due to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments; issues with Universal Credit in the area; insecure work; closure of local charities offering crisis support; lack/reduction in available local government support.
Bradford North Foodbank shares the concerns of other foodbanks in both full and partial Universal Credit rollout areas, highlighted today by The Trussell Trust in a new report about the difficulties some people are experiencing. The foodbank has provided emergency food and support to people needing help due to: the adverse impact of the initial wait, the lack of available statutory support, the inability of Universal Credit payments to cover the cost of living, and poor administration.
As part of a national network campaigning for change, the foodbank is working hard to offer practical emergency support to help prevent people affected going hungry, whilst simultaneously participating in vital research and raising awareness about the issues local people are facing.
Shuna Hartley, Foodbank Manager of Bradford North Foodbank said:
“We don’t want to be here forever. No one in our area (northern postcodes of Bradford city plus Rawdon, Yeadon and Gusieley) should need a foodbank’s help and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all. It doesn’t have to be this way – with a benefits system that catches people before they fall into crisis, and secure work that provides people with enough money to cover the cost of essentials, this is possible. But until that time, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most – we’re dedicated to ensuring that people in our community with no money for food are able to access emergency support, and that has only been possible in the last year because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds. Thank you.”
The average running costs for the foodbank are around £13,000 a year, all of which is raised locally to enable us to continue our work. Costs include warehouse space (to sort and stock donated food), rent for one of our five distribution centres, purchase of essential food items for our emergency food bags (when stocks are very low), other overheads like utilities and insurances. At present we are 100% volunteer-run, but, due to the growth of our foodbank, the charity trustees are considering employing a part-time foodbank manager, which we estimate will double our annual costs. The foodbank welcomes any new offers of help with funding – local businesses, organisations and individuals interested in supporting the foodbank’s work can find out more at https://bradfordnorth.foodbank.org.uk/give-help