Foodbanks here to stay?

More than a million people used foodbanks across the UK in the last year, marking the highest uptake yet — and in Glasgow and East Renfrewshire, the demand continues.
By Gillian Loney
Published 23rd Apr 2015, 10:52 BST

Figures released by The Trussell Trust show record numbers applying for a three day supply of emergency food, compared with 900,000 last year.Trussell Trust director Adrian Curtis said: “Despite welcome signs of economic recovery, hunger continues to affect significant numbers in the UK today.These figures highlight how vital it is that we all work to prevent and relieve hunger in the UK.”

In East Renfrewshire, the volunteer-run foodbank has fed 4,000 in a year and a half. Organiser Ken Trench told The Extra that the foodbank is “anticipating continued demand for those in crisis and financial hardship for some time to come”.

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At Glasgow South East Foodbank, a representative commented: “We’re still very busy — the demand is still there. We continue to rely totally on donations. People are very generous, but they have to keep coming or we couldn’t manage.”

Dr John Middleton, vice president of the faculty of public health, commented: “The rising number who cannot afford to buy sufficient food is a public health issue that we must not ignore.

“If we do not tackle the root causes now, we will see it affecting future generations too.”

Related topics:East RenfrewshirePeople