Food bank use up by more than 40 per cent in Rotherham

Figures from the Trussel Trust, which oversees a network of foodbanks across the country, show that 3,830 food parcels were handed out at its food banks in Rotherham between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 compared to 2,693 during the same period in 2020/21.

Lynn Cadman, who runs the Montgomery Hall Food Bank in Wath upon Dearne says: “The Wath Food Bank has seen an increase in the number of people coming to us for support, however, donations are falling, which is making it difficult to put our food parcels together.

“People are having to cut back their own budgets due to the rise in cost of living and, unfortunately, that means they don’t have the spare income they used to have to be able to donate items.”

John Healey, MP for Wentworth and Dearne says the increase shows the real impact of the cost of living crisis.

Mr Healey said: “Britain shouldn’t be a country where millions of people are struggling to get by on a day to day basis.

“These figures are devastating and reveal the level of hunger for children and families because of the cost of living crisis.

“Decisions made in Downing Street, such as cuts to Universal Credit, lack of help to deal with rocketing energy bills, punishing tax rises and real terms pensions cuts are pushing more and more working people and pensioners into food bank queues.”

“The food budget is often the first thing to be cut when money’s tight. People rightly expect the Government to do more, and they need help now with the spiralling cost of basics.”

Rotherham Council this week agreed to extend a supermarket voucher scheme for families of youngsters on free school meals until the October half term, and provide £150 vouchers for pensioners struggling with the cost of living.