Foodbanks predict holiday surge from families

According to foodbank charity Trussell Trust more than 67,500 emergency food parcels were given to children in July and August last year – 4,000 more parcels than were handed out in May and June.

The Trussell Trust supports 420 foodbanks across the country, including Swindon Foodbank.

Cher Smith, deputy manager of Swindon Foodbank, told the Adver last month: “More and more we support families and a lot of them are working and on low wages.

“We see a bit of a surge in holiday times because children get free school meals during the school term.”

Last year the Swindon Foodbank handed out 47 tonnes of food. Bosses said they had seen an overall rise in the number of people using Swindon Foodbank: in 2011 they fed 3,760 people and in 2016 they fed 4,619.

“Some people say that they feed their children rather than themselves,” Cher said.

The Trussell Trust say that around half of the children’s emergency food parcels they handed out last year went to primary-aged kids aged between five and 11.

Samantha Stapley, the Trussell Trust’s operations manager for England, said: “Over a third of all the food distributed by foodbanks in our network consistently goes to children. But these new figures show five to 11-year-olds are more likely than other children to receive a foodbank’s help.

“This highlights just how close to crisis many families are living.”

The trust said it welcomed government’s commitment to maintaining free school meals during term time. But they said: “The next step must be to help families during the holidays.”

Swindon Foodbank appealed for support from residents in the town. Bosses at the foodbank said that they need to raise £30,000 by Christmas in order to cover their operating costs.

They have asked that when people donate food to the charity, they attach a pound to the bottom of one of the items.

Swindon Foodbank accepts donations at most supermarkets, as well as collection points across Swindon. For more, visit: www.swindonfoodbank.co.uk.