TAVISTOCK Foodbank has seen another year on year increase in the number of people in crisis coming forward for help — the largest cause for which is low income.

In the past 12 months (2015/2016) Tavistock Foodbank has fed 677 individuals — approximately 13 per week — compared with the same period in 2014/2015 where it fed 558 individuals, about ten per week.

Tavistock Foodbank, which is run by national charity the Trussell Trust, is now several years old and has given out tonnes of food to the people in the town from its base at the United Reformed Church (URC) in Russell Street.

People in need of help are referred to the foodbank by care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, schools, police and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau and are given vouchers. They then take their voucher to the URC on a Friday and have a cup of tea, a chat and get some advice while their parcel is prepared.

Each parcel contains food for the family as well as recipe cards with ideas on how to use the food in the parcel.

Chairperson for Tavistock Foodbank Valerie O’Neill said: ‘We have seen another year on year increase in the number of clients in crisis using our services.’

‘The largest single cause for the crisis noted remains low income — an income below that required to run the family home.’

Recent figures showed that Tavistock Foodbank issued 42 vouchers in May, helping a total of 81 people — 56 adults and 25 children; in June 17 vouchers were issued, which helped 25 adults and five children — an increase on June last year, but last month a total of 45 individuals were supported by the foodbank which is a decrease of 19 people from July 2015.

Valerie said: ‘We are delighted to see a small decrease in the July 2016 figures and can only hope this decline continues. As we are in the middle of the school holidays, we would like to remind parents who may find themselves in difficulties that we can provide assistance if needed. We’re concerned that people whose children get free lunches at school are not coming forward to ask for help in the holidays.’

The Trussell Trust published recent research that showed the desperate choices facing many families across the UK this summer.

Chief executive of Turn2us, a national charity that helps people in financial hardship to gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services, Simon Hopkins said: ‘The Trussell Trust findings reveal that a fifth of parents will skip a meal during the school holidays so that their children can eat, with the charity estimating that as many as 1.5-million people could be forced to forgo food over the coming weeks. Forty two per cent of parents told us they were worried about spending more on food for their children during the summer break and 36 per cent were concerned about paying their essential bills at this time. As a result, one in six will be forced to borrow money through credit cards, overdrafts and loans to make it through.’

Families whose child or children are entitled to free school meals are eligible to receive a voucher for three days worth of food from the foodbank during school holidays.

Val added: ‘We continue to be ever grateful for the support of the local community. At a recent event collecting food at Tavistock Tesco, we collected approximately 650kg of food — that’s enough food to feed 50 individuals and we would like to thank Tesco and the staff for all their help and support.

‘We will continue to list our shortages on our Facebook page and after being asked on a number of occasions, can confirm that we accept toiletries, washing powder and pet food, which we distribute when necessary. Although these items are not on the “essential” list, we feel that a person’s spiritual wellbeing is as important as feeding the body.’

Information on how to obtain a valid food voucher can be found on the Tavistock Foodbank Facebook page, on the website at www.tavistock.foodbank. org.uk or by calling 07941 436149.

You can also visit the local Citizen’s Advice Bureau at Kingdon House or visit the Tavistock Children’s Centre.