The number of people using foodbanks in the South East has risen by 20% in four years.
That is according to a new survey by the Green Party, who accuse the government of what they call a “shameful record on poverty”.
The government says the reasons why people visit foodbanks is complex, and numbers are falling in some areas.
The foodbank at St Matthew’s Church in Redhill has been running for five years, but is now struggling to keep up with demand. On one day recently, 25 families came through the door in just two hours.
However, Hailsham Foodbank Manager, Julie Coates, states, “We have also seen an increase in use but the generous donations from the local community still currently cover our demand and enable us to be able to help other foodbanks out.
“The items we are currently running low on though are longlife fruit juice and instant mash.”
The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity that runs a network of 428 foodbanks across the UK. The foodbanks provide three days’ nutritionally balanced food and support to people in crisis in the UK.
The Trussell Trust is currently running two challenges:
