Demand grows for city’s food banks as more families struggle

7:00am Monday 19th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

Foodbank co-ordinator Ken Leach with empty shelves and boxes – appealing for donations Foodbank co-ordinator Ken Leach with empty shelves and boxes – appealing for donations

Bradford’s foodbanks are experiencing massive demand from desperate families with the problem set to get worse as benefits are cut.

In December, the Bradford Metropolitan Foodbank expects to hand out a staggering 400 parcels, quadrupling the 100 parcels they handed out in December 2010 and double the amount they handed out last Christmas.

This year has seen their hand-outs rise sharply from 150 at the start of the year to 358 parcels handed out in October.

Meanwhile Bradford foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust and situated near Bradford Cathedral, has doubled the amount of parcels they hand out in 12 months from 50 each month last year to 100 this year and last month they handed out a ton of food.

In the last two months they have seen a 40 per cent increase in the volume of food given out.

Housing associations, the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and charities and advice centres including the Girlington Advice Centre approach the foodbank on behalf of families and those with no money or access to benefits.

A family of six from Slovakia, with no benefits or work, had to be given food for their small children, as did a family with eight children, again who had no money or food, attending the Girlington centre.

Gareth Jones, the foodbank manager, said: “Of course it saddens you when you hear of a family in crisis, but I would like to say the community of Bradford is very generous in their support.

“We expect more of the same and we are just constantly growing and it is not going to slow down at this point in time.”

Ken Leach, the Metropolitan Food Bank co-ordinator, said: “I suspect the sharp rise is partly because more people are aware of us and people are finding it more of a struggle.

“Donations after the harvest festival will keep us going for another month. There has been only one month this year we have been below 200 parcels and we primarily help those people struggling with benefits.

“The demand makes us all try and work harder and next year might be even worse. I would like to see a solution, but I don’t.”

He pleaded with local businesses not to throw food out, but instead donate it to them.

“One company gave us palletloads of tins and it needs to be in the minds of decision makers that we can use that food,” he added.

To find out more, visit bradfordfood bank.com or bradford.foodbank.org.uk.

Comments(15)

angry bradfordian says...
8:18am Mon 19 Nov 12

I've been donating to a food bank (not sure if it's the same one) after a work colleague started collecting.

However, I'm thinking of stopping this as I'm not particularly keen on subsidising people with 6 or 8 kids and people from Eastern Europe who plainly can't afford to live here if they can't afford any food.

If other people think like me, this appeal for more donations may backfire.

At least it disproves the Daily Mail brigade who say that Eastern Europeans come here and get the same benefits as UK residents.

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windymiller says...
8:21am Mon 19 Nov 12

Nothing wrong with giving to those in need but why do we have people living here with no work or benefits? How are they housed if not entitled to benefits? The biggest question is why are they still in this country - are they illegal or failed asylum seekers? This country needs sorting now. If you appear at a port with no passport you do not gain access but are returned on the next transport. The problem is they are allowed access and then that is when the problems start.

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Avro says...
9:26am Mon 19 Nov 12

Demand is growing because of this situation....

"A family of six from Slovakia, with no benefits or work, had to be given food for their small children."

Basically EU migrants coming to the UK without work or anything, because they know that having 'nothing' in the UK is more than they would ever receive back home!

Nothing more than spongers taking food from our own needy!

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RollandSmoke says...
9:32am Mon 19 Nov 12

It's sad that the T&A have highlighted two cases where the rabid right wingers can rant about the number of children they have. Circumstances change and these people may have been fully able to care for all their children in the past. How many people does the food bank deal with that have no children? How many people need help but don't know where to turn to get it? Unfortunately when we are stepping over bodies in the street there will still be those who are blind to the direction that this country is heading and others who will continue to lay the blame on the victims who are least able to do anything to change that direction. There are financial incentives for some in ensuring that poverty and a hand to mouth existence becomes widespread. Y' know what I mean Provident?

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angry bradfordian says...
9:58am Mon 19 Nov 12

RollandSmoke wrote:
It's sad that the T&A have highlighted two cases where the rabid right wingers can rant about the number of children they have. Circumstances change and these people may have been fully able to care for all their children in the past. How many people does the food bank deal with that have no children? How many people need help but don't know where to turn to get it? Unfortunately when we are stepping over bodies in the street there will still be those who are blind to the direction that this country is heading and others who will continue to lay the blame on the victims who are least able to do anything to change that direction. There are financial incentives for some in ensuring that poverty and a hand to mouth existence becomes widespread. Y' know what I mean Provident?
To be fair to the T&A, they are only reporting the examples they were given.

A Slovakian couple with 6 kids are using the food bank, they are going to be using the same amount of food as EIGHT single people who may of lost their job or have fallen on hard times.
As I previously said, I have been contributing to a food bank, but may stop now I know that it's providing meals to people who shouldn't even be in our country if they aren't providing for themselves.

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Bone_idle18 says...
10:28am Mon 19 Nov 12

Wonder how many of the parcels are given to people who just fancy some free food?

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ANY WHERE BUT HERE says...
10:30am Mon 19 Nov 12

This is a sad situation for us all we need to face up and realise that our politicians mainly labour have sold the country down the crapper. England isn't the same has 10 15 years ago we haven't made progress. You can only fit so many people into one space. All people should be able to eat but were at a point where people are seen to be taking other peoples food. There is trouble ahead.

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georget says...
11:02am Mon 19 Nov 12

Yep, We All know Too many foreigners,, In this country
Thats all they understand FREEBIES,
Where will they go when this country is a third world, & Make no mistake its coming, WE ARE Being taken over by foreigners, Who live Like Tramps
So they are Quite Happy, Just be an home from home

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RollandSmoke says...
11:31am Mon 19 Nov 12

Bone_idle18 wrote:
Wonder how many of the parcels are given to people who just fancy some free food?
As you can't get anything unless you have a referal I'd say not many. Are you going to try and apply any logic to your feeble points today?

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The Hoffster says...
1:43pm Mon 19 Nov 12

These families must suck at money-management.

Wonder how many kids they've got and how much luxuries they indulge in (whilst saying they're starving to death at the same time)?

{rolleyes}

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i hate bradford says...
1:46pm Mon 19 Nov 12

I know someone who is not an immigrant here in Bradford who through no fault of their own was made redundant and needed benefits. It took 5 weeks to sort out their claim. They had one child only and turned to the community centre for help but was turned away with nothing!!

I would like to know how these non English people with so many children get food parcels but not our own people?

I shall not be helping with donations again that is for sure. Surly charity should begin at home? Why do these immigrants come above our own people?

Don't get me wrong I don't have anything against these people what so ever and yes they should be helped to feed their poor children but it doesn't make sense to put them before our own people?

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i hate bradford says...
1:46pm Mon 19 Nov 12

I know someone who is not an immigrant here in Bradford who through no fault of their own was made redundant and needed benefits. It took 5 weeks to sort out their claim. They had one child only and turned to the community centre for help but was turned away with nothing!!

I would like to know how these non English people with so many children get food parcels but not our own people?

I shall not be helping with donations again that is for sure. Surly charity should begin at home? Why do these immigrants come above our own people?

Don't get me wrong I don't have anything against these people what so ever and yes they should be helped to feed their poor children but it doesn't make sense to put them before our own people?

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pellethead says...
7:42pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Some of you lot are just plain effin horrible. If someone is hungry they are hungry. I really pity you vile nasty bitter twisted people.

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pellethead says...
7:46pm Mon 19 Nov 12

Some of you lot are just plain effin horrible. If someone is hungry they are hungry. I really pity you vile nasty bitter twisted people.

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The Hoffster says...
1:40pm Tue 20 Nov 12

^^^

'Daft Lil', is that you ?

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