THOUSANDS of Swindon children went hungry last year as the town’s foodbank faced one of its busiest years on record.

Swindon Foodbank provided emergency support to almost 5,200 people. More than 2,000 of them were children under the age of 16.

Bosses fear that there is a rapidly growing demand for their services. Cher Smith, foodstore coordinator at Swindon Foodbank, said: “This month alone, we’ve already fed 250 people in just three weeks. It’s a trend. I don’t think it’s going to get any better.”

Changes to the benefits system have been blamed for the rise in the number of people approaching the foodbank for support.

In particular, foodbank managers have pointed to delays in those claiming benefits under the new Universal Credit system being paid and current benefit levels not covering the cost of essential food and household items.

Cher said: “44 per cent of people who come to us say it’s benefit delays. People are still struggling with the time it takes to get their money. At Christmas we were seeing people wait 14 weeks for Universal Credit. Now, we’re having people report eight-week delays. It is still a long time if you’ve not got any money.”

According to the Swindon Foodbank, 37 per cent of those approaching them for support are working-people on low incomes. “They’re working, but they haven’t got enough to feed their families,” said Cher.

Walcot and Park North topped the list of Swindon wards where demand for the foodbank is highest, followed by Gorsehill and Pinehust.

Nationally, 2017/18 was the busiest year on record for foodbanks. Across the country, foodbanks in the Trussell Trust charity network handed out almost 1,333,000 emergency three-day food parcels, a rise of 45 per cent in five years. Last year, almost 500,000 food parcels went to children.

The Trussell Trust foodbank charity says they have seen a growing number of people approaching the foodbank because their benefits and income did not cover bills.

Delays in benefits being paid were behind one in four referrals to a foodbank, the charity said. Foodbanks in areas like Swindon, where Universal Credit has been rolled out, had on average seen more people approaching them for help.

Calling for benefit levels to be increased in line with inflation, Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, said: “UC is the future of our benefits system. It’s vital we get it right and ensure levels of payment keep pace with the rising cost of essentials.”

The Department for Work & Pensions disputed any link between changes to benefits and an increase in foodbank use, adding: “The best way to help people improve their lives is through employment, with people on Universal Credit moving into work faster and staying in work longer.” To donate to Swindon Foodbank, tape a £1 coin to the top of a donated tin or go to swindon.foodbank.org.uk.