As Christmas nears, more and more people are having to rely on foodbanks – and UNISON has been highlighting the growing reliance on food banks for our members and the population as a whole, both in work and out of work, over the past few years.
UNISON is campaigning to change the government’s welfare reforms so that vulnerable and low-paid families are lifted out of poverty and the reliance on food banks. The Labour Party’s recent commitment to review universal credit, if elected, is a step in the right direction.
Speaking in the Left Field tent at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis questioned the proliferation of food banks in the eighth richest country in the world. And he ridiculed a government in denial over the crisis it has caused.
“People are proud. They tend to use food banks only when they’ve cut back on everything they can, and exhausted all other possible avenues of support.”
Statistics from the Trussell Trust show that 913,138 people were given three days emergency food and support in 2013-14: 330,205 of these were children. On average, 2,502 people were fed every day and 8,318 tonnes of food was donated by the public.
Over the year, more than 30,000 people have volunteered to work in food banks. And to mark the start of the countdown to Christmas – and see for ourselves what the growing reliance on foodbanks means – the communications team at UNISON centre volunteered for a day at the Islington food bank in north London, run by the Trussell Trust.
- Between 2011 and 2013, UNISON’s welfare charity There for You saw a 75% increase in payments to members in crisis, many of whom could not afford to pay for food, bus fares or other daily essentials. In 2013, it paid out a total of £12,300. Individual payments started from £20.
If a recent incident has left you struggling, There for You may be able to help. Call on 020 7121 5620 or visit the web pages.
Read more: The rise and rise of the food bank
Our volunteering was organised by TimeBank, a volunteering charity which organises volunteering opportunities all year round. Find out more about them and opportunities for volunteering near you by visiting their website.
