MP and charities reveal soaring demand for food banks in Sheffield

Sheffield food banks supplied items to 3,152 people in 1,464 households during the week beginning April 20.

The scale suggests that about one in 160 Sheffield households needed to go to a food bank to eat, a significant increase on the previous week.

There are also emergency food deliveries co-ordinated by community hubs, faith groups and other organisations.

Figures show an 81 per cent increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed by Trussell Trust food banks compared with the same time last year and a 122 per cent rise in the number of parcels given to children.

The most common reasons for referral were a fall in income from work or benefits and sickness.

Maddy Desforges, Voluntary Action Sheffield chief executive, said: “By its very nature, this virus will impact more on people who are most disadvantaged and socially vulnerable, people with the lowest life expectancy.

“Lockdown is having a significant impact on the economy, which will result in the number of people that we classify as disadvantaged increasing significantly.

"We need an approach which looks beyond the next few weeks to ensure sustainability in food supply for everyone in the city.”

Nearly two million people have applied for Universal Credit since the government advised people to stay at home due to coronavirus.

Louise Haigh, MP for Sheffield Heeley, is calling on the government to convert Universal Credit advances into grants instead of loans, end the five-week wait and remove the £16,000 savings limit.

She said: “Many people are still falling through the cracks in the government’s schemes. People’s incomes are falling or disappearing completely and Universal Credit is not providing a good enough safety net.

“A lack of support is pushing people into debt and destitution.

“Prime Minister Boris Johnson must put measures in place to secure people’s incomes and prevent more poverty.

"I'd ask people to continue to donate to local food banks as they are still running low on supplies.”

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