Stamford and Oundle Foodbank and Rutland Foodbank, run by Trussell Trust, report record demand for help

The need for emergency food parcels from a foodbank serving two towns soared by a third over the last 12 months.

A total of 2,361 people received parcels from Stamford and Oundle Foodbank - up 33 per cent on the previous 12-month period – 754 of whom were children.

The statistics are part of annual figures released last week by foodbanks nationally, covering April 2022 to the end of March this year, and are largely attributed to the cost of living crisis.

December was the busiest month for Stamford and Oundle Foodbank, with 276 emergency food parcels provided by staff and volunteers.

“The last 12 months have been the busiest for our foodbank centres in Stamford and Oundle since we opened over 10 years ago,” said Sian Fytche, operations manager at Stamford and Oundle Foodbank.

“We have seen a record number of people needing to use a foodbank for the first time as they struggled to afford food and keep their houses lit and warm.”

Sian also praised the community response.

“The generosity of our local communities has enabled us to meet the increased demand, and throughout the colder months we were able to help practically, supplying blankets and hot water bottles,” she added.

“It should not be that people have to turn to a charity because they are unable to afford the essentials.”

There was a similar story for Rutland Foodbank which fed 2,123 people in the county, their highest-ever total and a jump of 17 per cent up on the previous 12 months. Of those, 954 were children, a rise of 19 per cent.

It gave seven-day food and toiletries parcels to 264 homes across the county, a fifth of which went to those in work who still struggled to afford food.

They also reported a 10 per cent increase in emergency food parcels, with 776 given out, 413 of which went to 150 households with children.

“It was not the busiest year for parcels provided, but it was the busiest in terms of the number of people fed,” said Ali Wainwright, chair of trustees at Rutland Foodbank.

“What is of concern is the number of referrals this year that were for new households, indicative of the impact of the cost of living crisis.”

The picture was more stable for Bourne Foodbank which helped 2,030 adults and children in the corresponding 12 months, down by 39.

However, more stock was distributed – 28,500kg compared to 24,064kg, while more than 1,000kg of surplus stock went to help the people of Ukraine.

“We have busy and quiet days, but our community continues to be very supportive both in food and monetary donations. ” said chairman of trustees Jake Jacobs.

“We have also been able to support the Ukraine appeal, by providing any surplus stock that we had at that time.”

The Trussell Trust, a charity which co-ordinates foodbanks around the country, including Stamford and Oundle, Bourne and Rutland, has called for an overhaul of the social security system.

It wants the Government to bring in an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ to ensure Universal Credit payments provide enough to cover essentials such as food, utilities and vital household goods.