DOZENS of foodbanks across Scotland will be closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral, it has been revealed.
An investigation by Third Force News (TFN) found that more than a third of Trussell Trust sites – which has a network of 45 operators and runs 119 foodbank centres across 28 local council areas – have confirmed they will reduce services.
Following reports in England that some local providers were due to close on the day of the funeral, a number reversed the decision due to the backlash from the public.
TFN contacted dozens of operators across Scotland, as the Trussell Trust has said individual banks were best placed to decide whether to open, to see how many will be operating on Monday September 19.
The charity sector magazine found that at least 17 operators – who run 46 separate food banks – will be closing.
Blythswood Care, a Christian charity, are Trussell Trust members and run 11 food banks across the Highlands, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh.
The operators confirmed that their sites would be closing and insisted that they have never opened seven days a week.
A spokesperson for Blythswood added: “No one should miss out. Referring agents who dispense foodbank vouchers are being advised that we are closed on Monday. Some key agents do hold emergency food boxes. Our foodbanks will be open on Tuesday.”
Operators in Dunfermline, East Lothian, Lochaber, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow south east have all confirmed on their social media channels that they will be closing.
Dundee and Angus foodbank, which has five sites in the city, will also close, but plan to provide additional parcels for out-of-hours access and social work services.
In Glenrothes, the Auchmuty foodbank closed on September 9, the day following the announcement of the Queen’s death, and will also close on Monday.
A representative for Falkirk foodbank also confirmed it would close, telling TFN: “We are all volunteers, and a lot of them will want to watch the Queen's funeral. It is a national holiday, so we are hoping that quite a lot of agencies will be closed as well.
“We just work on referrals – without those, we can't provide. I don't think we'll be that busy this Monday, and to give the volunteers an opportunity to pay their respects as the vast majority are over 65, so most of them want to watch it.
“We deliver to people's homes, that just means we'll just have to put on an extra van or so [on Tuesday].”
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman said: “These reports are concerning, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis.
“I’m urgently seeking more information on the situation to see what assistance can be offered to anyone impacted.”
However, not all foodbanks are set to shut their doors. In Aberdeenshire, South Foodbank in Banchory, the closest food bank to Balmoral Castle, confirmed they will remain open.
A representative told TFN: “We will be open. People are hungry whether the Queen has died or not."
Services in Perth and Kinross, which has two food banks, Larkhall, Airdrie and Glasgow North West will continue despite the bank holiday.
However, almost half of the food banks contacted by TFN have not confirmed whether or not they will open.
Sabine Goodwin, Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) UK co-ordinator, said: "Most people who are struggling to afford food won't access a food bank whether it's a bank holiday or not.
“Food bank teams will always do their utmost to support anyone needing help in their communities. They run extra sessions to compensate for bank holiday breaks and operate out-of-hours lines to support people in need.”
