Hard-up families in Einburgh are relying on foodbanks in record numbers, the Evening News revealed.
Saughton-based charity Edinburgh Food Project handed out more than 9,500 emergency food supplies this year – up 18.5 per cent on last year and more than double the number five years ago. The shocking figures were labelled a “disgrace” while anti-poverty campaigners called for greater help and support for the poorest.
“We don’t want to be here forever,” said Bethany Monaghan, foodbank manager of Edinburgh Food Project. “No one in Edinburgh 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,” said Ms Monaghan. “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 9,536 three-day emergency food supplies were provided to crisis-hit families between April 2017 and March 2018 in North West, Central and East of Edinburgh. This compared to 7,767 the previous year and only 3,612 back in 2013/14. A third of the supplies this year – 3,162 – went to children. The 18.5 per cent rise in Edinburgh over the last year is above the UK average of 13 percent.
A member of The Trussell Trust’s network of foodbanks, EFP attributes the rise in Edinburgh to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments.
https://www.scotsman.com/regions/edinburgh-fife-lothians/foodbank-use-at-record-high-across-capital-1-4732253
Saughton-based charity Edinburgh Food Project handed out more than 9,500 emergency food supplies this year – up 18.5 per cent on last year and more than double the number five years ago. The shocking figures were labelled a “disgrace” while anti-poverty campaigners called for greater help and support for the poorest.
“We don’t want to be here forever,” said Bethany Monaghan, foodbank manager of Edinburgh Food Project. “No one in Edinburgh 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,” said Ms Monaghan. “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 9,536 three-day emergency food supplies were provided to crisis-hit families between April 2017 and March 2018 in North West, Central and East of Edinburgh. This compared to 7,767 the previous year and only 3,612 back in 2013/14. A third of the supplies this year – 3,162 – went to children. The 18.5 per cent rise in Edinburgh over the last year is above the UK average of 13 percent.
A member of The Trussell Trust’s network of foodbanks, EFP attributes the rise in Edinburgh to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments.
https://www.scotsman.com/regions/edinburgh-fife-lothians/foodbank-use-at-record-high-across-capital-1-4732253
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