A Newcastle foodbank has been hailed as a “lifesaver” by locals who rely on it, after new figures revealed the shocking scale of need across the city.
The West End Foodbank issued 39% more food parcels in the past 12 months than the previous year, a whopping 287 tonnes of essential items to help its users survive the cost of living crisis. A record number of emergency packages have been handed out across the UK, with the Trussell Trust charity confirming that the North East has suffered the greatest spike in deprivation of any region.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service at a foodbank drop-in session at the Venerable Bede Church on the West Road this week, struggling service users opened up about the impact of rising prices. Kevin Seath has been using the foodbank for a couple of months, and came seeking help after the death of his mother led him to suffer mental health problems and turn to alcohol.
Read More: Ukrainian refugees in Newcastle left homeless as council warns of 'horrifying' housing crisis
After getting into debt, the 59-year-old has found the foodbank to be a vital lifeline. He said: “It has been a bit of a lifesaver for me. I never thought I would be in this situation and I guess a lot of people are going through the same thing at the moment.
“A few years ago when I was working I had disposable income and I didn’t think about what I spending on food, or on anything really. Now it has got to the point where this place is essential for me, it is a lifeline for so many people.”
He added: “I have noticed that you don’t just get down-and-out people coming here, it is a whole spectrum. Families especially, I see loads of people coming in with kids and this must mean so much to them.”
Another foodbank user, 75-year-old Mary, recently started coming for basic items because of the pressure caused by rising energy bills. The pensioner, from Blakelaw, said: “The cost of living is the problem, my gas and electric has just gone up and up.
"I would be totally struggling [without the support of the foodbank]. I have never done this before and it does feel like you are begging a bit.”
From its beginnings as a place where struggling people in the West End could come for food, the West End Foodbank has expanded across the city and now offers more services aimed at helping those in need.
Geordie Dodds, from Cowgate, is getting help from the charity’s “really helpful” welfare support service to try and make his Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim. He said: “I have Universal Credit and I am trying to get PIP but it has been going on for ages and ages and I just don’t know what to do with it.”
The West End Foodbank operates a network of seven welfare hubs in Benwell, Byker, Heaton, Lemington, Newbiggin Hall, West Denton, and the West Road.
Read Next:
- New Northumbria police chief vows to 'get ahead' of violent crimes after spate of teen knife deaths
- Top cop pledges stronger police presence after figures reveal 100,000 unattended anti-social behaviour incidents
- Nick Kemp challenged for Newcastle City Council leadership as Labour power struggle takes another twist
- Newcastle West End Foodbank hands out 39% more emergency parcels as cost of living crisis hits hard
- Jesmond road closures row: Councillors back replacing Low Traffic Neighbourhood bollards with cameras
