THE boss of a food bank in the town is encouraging people struggling with the Universal Credit cuts and rising fuel prices to make use of its services. 

Swindon Food Collective’s manager Cher Smith has sent out a strong message that families should be proud to come to food banks and that the stigma of shame surrounding them needs to be eradicated.

Food banks across the country have been bracing themselves for a spike in demand after the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift was removed this month.

Cher believes the true impact of the cuts will only become apparent when people get their next payments, but she is not concerned about supply issues in the upcoming months. 

She said: “We had our first person last week who said they’re coming to us because of Universal Credit changes but we have a well-oiled machine and we’re lucky to have the generosity of Swindon to keep us going. 

“Those struggling should come to the food bank without any shame and without any guilt.

“They should come because it’s the right thing to do for their family and that’s the message we need to get out there.” 

One Swindon mother told The Observer: “It’s going to be a struggle. We can only afford £60 a fortnight on food and prices are going up.” 

Swindon Food Collective currently feeds around 500 people a month. Although this number is up on typical levels, it still managed to supply food to more than 1,000 people a month at three points during the pandemic. 

During one holiday, the team provided around four tonnes of food across three weeks.
Cher said: “We expected this increase so we opened new distribution centres in Lyneham and in Pinetrees. 

“We’re looking to expand further because more postcode areas have come into areas of deprivation in Swindon.”

Twelve areas in Swindon are in the top 10 per cent most deprived nationally, according to 2019 government statistics. This was up from eight areas in 2015.

Cher added: “Be proud to come to the food bank because you are protecting and feeding your family. 

“We should not pour scorn on food banks. When people are negative and say 'why do we have food banks in this day and age', it puts people off coming.”

Swindon Food Collective provides people with non-perishable foods, toiletries, cleaning materials and pet food.