A school that set up its own food bank and supply of sanitary products to help struggling children runs out of stock 'every day' as families grapple with the ever-growing cost of living crisis.
Gateacre School in Belle Vale set up its food bank when pupils returned to school at the beginning of September, bringing in large crates of canned food and fresh fruit and vegetables on the brink of their sell-by dates that would otherwise be thrown away by supermarkets.
Staff at the school were inspired to set up the food bank to fight food waste after giving away left-over ingredients from their home economics department before the summer holidays - but quickly realised the demand for food was higher than they could have anticipated.
READ MORE: Ferry crew save woman's life after passenger spots her in River Mersey
Teacher Lisa Mitchell said: "Every day since we've been back we've had six to 15 crates of food in our reception, and we put posters out in the community for anyone to come in and collect what they want. We have bread, fruit, vegetables, cans, cereal, condiments - you name it, we've got it, and by the end of the day it's all gone.
"Our reception does get a lot of visitors every day. Sanitary products are going really quickly as well.
"We have noticed in the last couple of years that there's a need for something like this in the area. I think there's a need for it from a financial point of view, and also a lot of people are more aware of sustainability and the problem of landfill waste - if we didn't use these products, they would just go in the bin.
"As for the sanitary products, I think it's a case of period poverty. These products are expensive and we find a lot of our students struggle."
Period poverty refers to the inability to access vital sanitary products due to financial problems. In 2017, a survey by Plan International UK reported that as many as one in 10 young people in need of sanitary products had been unable to afford them, and one in seven had to ask to borrow products from a friend.
It is estimated that more than 137,000 children in the UK have missed school days due to period poverty. Meanwhile, approximately 2.17m people used a foodbank in the UK in the past year.
The food bank is a new addition to the school's charity efforts, as it has provided a 'shop' of free second-hand uniforms for several years.
Lisa said: "The last couple of years, it has been sad to see the growing number of people in need, but if we can help them, that can only be a good thing.
"I have definitely seen an increase in the need for uniform. We used to have second-hand uniforms that we put out just before the holidays, so people could come and collect them. The past year, the uniforms have always been out, because people have always needed them.
"Even some of the staff are taking the odd bits and pieces.
"One day, I received a phonecall from one of the mums asking me to put a bag of food aside for her child to pick up at the end of the day. I knew that family, I knew they needed food. So when they came in, that bag was waiting for them.
"For some families, that can make a huge difference."
READ MORE
Thug broke wife's back in vicious assault then refused to take her to hospital
Boy, 15, dies after being 'pinned down and stabbed' outside school
Locksmith's warning after seeing rise in 'new burglary trick' that 'takes seconds'
Four warning signs as cases of Victorian disease surge across UK
'Caring' woman, 23, dies after falling from nightclub fire escape
