AS the cost of living crisis continues to be felt across the nation, more and more are taking more drastic measures in turning to foodbanks for help.
Foodbanks are non-profit charitable organisations which give food to people in crisis,
And the evidence more people are making the difficult but necessary decision to turn to foodbanks for help is more apparent than ever.
In its end of year statistics, which cover April 2022 to March 2023, The Trussell Trust, who run a network of foodbanks across the UK, distributed close to three million emergency food parcels - the most parcels ever distributed by the network in a year.
Foodbanks in the Trussell Trust network saw the highest ever levels of need, even more than during the peak of the pandemic, as more people found their incomes did not cover the cost of essentials like heating and food.
In Colchester, the situation is no different.
A total of 21,285 parcels were distributed, 12,122 for adults and 9,163 for children, across the city.
This was up from 14,923 in 2021-22, an increase of 42.6 per cent.
The total was the second highest in the east of England, only behind Bedford on 21,835.
Since the 2017-2018 financial year when 6,327 parcels were given out, foodbank usage in Colchester has increased by 293.9 per cent.
The Colchester foodbank has been helping people in the area for over a decade.
Foodbank boss Mike Beckett became interim manager in 2017 and then chief officer the following year.
“We are a safety net”, he said.
“Foodbanks are usually a last resort and people can get referred to us through frontline professionals.
“We then support them to go through the journey of becoming independent.
“We keep their head above water and work to help them to get back on land.
“For some, two or three food parcels are enough and that is what makes us come alive and is reason we come to work every day, to help people transform their lives.”
Food and energy prices have been rising markedly over the past year, particularly gas prices, largely in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
Global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic is putting further pressure on prices.
According to the Office for National Statistics, in the UK, the price of consumer goods and services rose at the fastest rate in four decades in the year to October 2022.
The annual inflation rate dropped slightly from 9.2 per cent to 8.9 per cent between February and March 2023 but was still high compared with recent years.
The ONS also reported in response to the rising cost of living, around six in every ten adults reported that they are spending less on non-essentials.
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“However secure you might be, you could be left needing the foodbank through no fault of your own”, said Mr Beckett.
“Anyone might need our help and we have various people come to us in need, as things may go well one week, but that can change very quickly.
“We help them come through the crisis.
“The cost of living a factor, the higher fuel prices mean people can’t afford fuel and therefore can’t afford to power their cookers or fridges.
“On the other side of it, it is not only cost of living crisis, a lot have been on benefits and find it hard to pay rent.
“People may top up their housing budget by taking from their food budget.
“So we can help someone stay in their home, keep the children with them and avoid them heading off to social services because they are not being fed, help people maintain their jobs, all by giving them food.
“We really work with our partners to increase the chances of success for people.”
Mr Beckett said the Colchester foodbank is looking at about a 40 per cent increase in demand, however desperately appealed for more items saying “the stocks are not keeping up”.
He said: “It is a massive team effort here, with all of us pulling together. The 300 volunteers are the lifeblood of the foodbank, they are amazing, and I can’t say enough good words about them.
“None of us want to need the foodbank but we want to help them.
“We are so grateful for those who give every week, and it can be anything they can afford to give us.
“The people of Colchester always show us massive generosity, whether it is tin of chickpeas, cartons of juice, jam jars or other things.
“But for those who want to help, but maybe cannot afford to, they can share our posts and item demands for free, so others can see what we are in need of.
“You don’t have to be rich to help the foodbank.”
For more information or lists of items needed, visit colchester.foodbank.org.uk or the Colchester Foodbank Facebook page.
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