Food bank's donors 'now using it themselves'

The food bank has seen a "continuous increase" in demand since 2017

People who previously donated to a Dorset food bank are now using it themselves, according to one member of staff.

Bournemouth Foodbank gave out more than 100,000 meals to people over the past year - 24,000 of which were children.

The group said it saw a rise in people using it for the first time and some people in the area were on the "edge of crisis".

The organisation supports families across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Bournemouth food bank gave out more than 100,000 meals to people in 2024

John Saborido, the group's data officer, said local families were under increasing pressure.

"People that were supporting us before needed to stop and some were even accessing the food bank themselves," he said.

"We know that people in the community are really struggling."

The food bank, which is supported by the Trussell food charity network, is running a Christmas crowdfunding campaign that Mr Saborido said would be crucial to sustain the food bank's operations.

John Saborido said the cost of living crisis was still impacting local families

"Our warehouse has less than a month's worth of food at any given time," he said.

"If donations stopped we would have to stop operating at our current levels about a month."

The food bank also provides a debt advice service and helps people find work.

Mr Saborido said the food bank had seen a "continuous increase" in the need for its services since 2017.

He added: "Every donation, no matter the size, makes a real difference."