Cold weather will increase food bank need, charity warns

A charity said colder weather may result in greater reliance on food banks

This week's cold weather could increase the number of people needing food banks, a charity has warned.

The manager of West Berks Food Bank, Fran Chamings, said keeping warm was "life-saving" for some people, so if they are forced to choose between eating and heating they would have to choose heating.

She said such a decision had a knock-on effect on people's mental health even if they were able to eat as a result of food banks.

West Berkshire Council said it offered Welcome Spaces - previously called Warm Spaces - for residents struggling with heating their homes, as well as the Household Support Fund.

Temperatures are set to plummet this week, with a number of Met Office weather warnings in place.

"We've been talking about heat or eat for a long time," said Ms Chamings.

She said it was a "massive" issue, and for older and disabled people, "keeping warm is really, really important because it's life-saving".

She added people were coming to West Berks Food Bank and asking for food that they do not need to cook, because they cannot afford it.

"It's never just about the food," she said.

"People come to the food bank… with just a simple thing, thinking 'can I get some food'. Then you talk to them and realise there's this whole raft of problems."

'Heart-breaking stories'

She said the numbers of people needing food banks increased "four-fold" during Covid, and whilst it has been relatively steady since, "it's the level of poverty now that we are realising".

"People can’t see light at the end of the tunnel," she said.

Mark Landreth Smith, who is on the executive committee for Christians Together in the Newbury Area, said Covid and the cost of living crisis meant there has been "exponential growth" in people needing financial help.

"There’s no end to the need or the heart-breaking stories," he said.

Some parts of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire, have already seen snow

West Berkshire Council said support was available for those who needed it.

Community coordinator for engagement Rhys Lewis said the council first introduced the Welcome Spaces as a "short term" thing.

"It's now looking like it's [needed] for the next two, three, four years," he said.

"It's a problem that isn't going away."