ONE in 33 people in the borough turned to the foodbank for help last year – and the numbers needing help has increased by 119% over the past five years.
New figures released by The Trussell Trust yesterday showed the extent of the cost of living has had on the borough.
Wokingham Foodbank said more than half of the people it has helped said they have been struggling with the rising cost of essentials.
Across the south east, The Trussell Trust said it had given out nearly 350,000 food parcels – 5,264 of these were handed out in the borough. Each contains enough food for three days, offering a helping hand to those referred to the service.
Of the people helped in Wokingham, 2,251 were children.
The population, according to the last census was 177,500 – so one in 33 people, or around 3% – have needed help.
And the busiest month of the year was December, when the foodbank delivered 582 emergency food parcels.
The work of the foodbank is compelemented by SHARE Wokingham, which offers surplus food that would otherwise go to landfill. This operates out of several venues across the week, including Norreys Church, and Shinfield Community Church.
The increase in demand has angered Annette Medhurst, the Wokingham Foodbank manager.
“Our foodbank has expanded considerably in recent years. We now operate across two sites and have over 100 amazing volunteers making sure that nobody in our community goes hungry,” she said.
“However, it shouldn’t really be like this.
“The level of need across Wokingham is really worrying and I am concerned that Foodbanks are being so ingrained in society that we aren’t really focusing on addressing the root causes of poverty.”
She said visitors to the foodbank received a warm welcome, help and support, including a new project working with Wokingham Citizens Advice, as well as First Days Children’s Charity and SHARE Wokingham. They are launching a community pantry, operating as a low-cost food store to referred members.
“The support of the community is vital in ensuring that Wokingham food bank can be there for anyone who turns to them for help,” Ms Medhurst added.
“At the moment the foodbank is short of tinned fruit, custard, and items that don’t need cooking such as pot noodles or cuppa soup.”
She said a typical emergency food parcel comprisesf items such as cereal, tinned fruit and vegetables, canned meat and fish, tea, coffee, biscuits, UHT milk, and pasta and rice.
“Over the last year, Wokingham Foodbank has needed to purchase more and more stock as donations are no longer meeting local need, especially in the summer months. Any donation is gratefully received and can be dropped off at the food bank and supermarket collection points,” she said.
The Trussell Trust is calling on the government to reform the social security system to introduce an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ into Universal Credit to ensure everyone has a protected minimum amount of support to afford the essentials.
Emma Revie, chief executive at the Trussell Trust, said: “It’s 2024 and we’re facing historically high levels of food bank need. As a society, we cannot allow this to continue.
“We must not let food banks become the new norm.
“As we approach the next UK General Election, we urgently need all political leaders to set out how they will build a future where no one needs a food bank to survive. Voters want to see a change and we need cross-government action at all levels to deliver it.
“We know what’s pushing people to food banks, so we know what needs to change.”
She continued: “A supportive social security system is the bedrock on which we end hunger for good, and we also need to ensure everyone can get the right support at the right time. People should be supported in a way that reflects the reality of their lives, especially if they’re facing the higher costs and barriers that impact certain groups such as parents, carers, disabled people. Everyone should have the security we all need to access opportunities and have hope for the future.
“Food banks are not the answer. They will be there to support people as long as they are needed, but by taking bold action our political leaders can build a future where everyone has enough money to afford the life’s essentials. The time to act is now.”
For more details, log on to: trusselltrust.org/manifesto
