MANAGERS of numerous foodbanks in North Wales have voiced their fears of becoming overwhelmed after a think tank warned of the UK’s biggest fall in income since the mid-1970s.
The Resolution Foundation’s annual Living Standards Outlook for 2022 has forecast typical household incomes in Britain to fall by four per cent in the coming financial year, the sharpest decline since for 40 years.
This is due in part to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which is set to further boost energy prices, and wider inflation, to more than eight per cent this spring.
Inflation could peak at 8.3 per cent this spring – or even exceed the 8.4 per cent rate seen in April 1991; the highest since 1982.
Brenda Fogg, leader of the Llandudno homeless charity “Hope Restored” since she founded it in 2010, said its foodbank is already seeing a rise in use, and notably among “normal working families”.
Brenda also fears that fewer donations will be received if the cost of living rises in the UK as much as has been predicted.
She said: “We’ve already seen a big increase prior to the cost of living going up, so we can only imagine how it’s going to be.
“We see it ourselves when we’re shopping, so how is anyone already on the breadline supposed to be able to afford to live and feed themselves and their children?
“We’re seeing so many more families that need it; it’s people that are working their hardest as well; that still have debts to pay.
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“Those are the people that are really going to struggle, that don’t get help any other way, and who can’t afford the massive increase in fuel, gas and electricity and food costs. It’s going to really affect normal working families.
“We can’t give them gas and electricity, but the amount of people that ask for that because they’ve got nothing… but we can give them the food, which means they can then pay for their gas.
“We don’t mind how many times people come to us. A lot of foodbanks require referrals, and there is also a maximum of how many people they can have in the space of six months. We don’t do that; if they need it; it’s there. We also ensure they get fresh fruit and veg.
“People also won’t be able to donate as much, either, so there’s going to be a massive knock-on effect for everybody.
“We’re expecting it to get so much worse. We saw a massive increase in the past year alone; every year, it’s increasing dramatically.
“We’re open seven days a week now, and there’s a 24-hour number, so that if anybody needs it, it’s there. It’s a really vital service now, which many people don’t realise.
“It’s not just people who you’d suspect to be using a foodbank; it’s your normal working families who just can’t afford to pay their bills, too.”
Rachel Round, manager of Rhyl Foodbank since it was set up in September 2019, has also noticed a particular rise in people using the service who have had to choose between “eating and heating”.
This follows a 12-month period during which time, between its foodbank itself and its FareShare scheme, the organisation supported 9,257 people.
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Rachel said: “We already know that people are struggling to pay their fuel, and it’s causing a lot of people to choose between eating and heating.
“The reality is that it’s only going to get worse, so it’s a cause for concern.
“We’re worried about how people are going to manage because it’s quite a big increase, and we’re wondering how best we can support people, but we’re unsure at the moment.
“It’s not the case for everyone, but there have definitely been a rise in people coming to the foodbank who had to make that difficult decision (between food and heating).”
Meanwhile, at Conwy Food Bank, the total number of parcels issued in February was 144; 46 to families including 102 children; 87 to single people; and 11 to couples.
This, said co-ordinator Nancy Hughes, marked a large increase on the figures from February 2021, with the foodbank currently in particular need of items such as sugar, coffee, tinned meat, cereal, Cup-a-Soups, tinned potatoes, packet savoury rice, and ultra-high temperature milk.
Nancy said: “It’s just been continually busy, and I think it’s going to carry on like this for a long time. It’s been crazy for so long now, anyway, and there’s no end in sight.
“With all of these increases, I think it’s going to make it worse. People that have just about managed are now not going to, so there are going to be even more (people). This is going to tip families well over; it’s going to be awful.
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“We’re so grateful; people have been out to drop off (food); I’ve just had an anonymous donation from ASDA from somebody, but at this time of year, it does go quiet for donations.
“We’ve had Christmas, and now the situation in Ukraine, so people are donating to them as well. We do need a reminder that we are struggling for donations.”
For more on any of the above organisations, visit: hoperestored.co.uk, rhyl.foodbank.org.uk or www.facebook.com/ConwyFoodBank.
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