Food bank demand in city 'highest since Covid'

Paul Brookhouse said he feared for the food bank's future as it did not have funds to meet ongoing demand

A food bank says demand for help in Derby is at its highest since it launched in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance (DF4TA), in Charnwood Street, said families were struggling with poverty and the cost of living crisis during the school holidays.

The charity made a plea for £15,000, claiming it was fast running out of supplies to meet demand, and almost £5,300 had been donated by residents and businesses, days after the appeal was made.

Manager Paul Brookhouse said, despite the generous support, he feared for the food bank's future saying it "simply doesn't have the funds" to spend up to £10,000 each month to restock.

He said food bills and energy prices were rising and families were finding it harder to cope, adding the "phone has not stopped ringing" for help, the Local Democracy Reporting Service was told.

"Food inflation has increased in the last six months so the price of food is going up for people," he said.

"It is costing more to make donations of food and any resource we get does not go as far as it used to a year ago.

"There is no light at the end of the tunnel yet. Things are tough but we keep going."

Mr Brookhouse said the pressure of raising funds to meet demand "gives me concern" but thanked people for the £5,269 donated so far, which would provide food parcels and essentials for a few weeks.

"Honestly a part of me feels embarrassed asking for help but I'm always blown away with the generosity here in the city that recognises we can make a difference," he said.

"I just want to say a heartfelt thank you.

"We are working hard and we don't want to be in a position where someone calls for help but we say 'sorry we can't help you'."