Trussell Trust – The New Listener

17:18 Wednesday 16th October 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[C]HRIS MANN: There are calls for an inquiry into why more and more people are in food poverty. The Trussell Trust which runs the UK’s largest network of food banks says the number of people attending its Cambridge centre has almost doubled over the last twelve months. And according to some today, professional workers who have lost their jobs have started using them. Citizens Advice in Cambridge say the year on year demand for food vouchers has doubled. Earlier I spoke to Dan Crossley from the charity The Food Ethics Council.
(TAPE)
DAN CROSSLEY: It’s a very serious issue, food poverty, which is being picked up in the Press, and being picked up in the Press today. There are many many thousands, or hundreds of thousands of people right across the UK, and in other parts of the world too, who are suffering from food poverty. In other words, unable to obtain healthy affordable food.
CHRIS MANN: How has this happened? We’re hearing that one of the areas of concern is that people with jobs can’t afford to feed themselves and their families. How can that be?
Continue reading “Food Poverty In Cambridge”

08:08 Tuesday 13th August 2013
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

[P]AUL STAINTON: A charity running food banks across the County says the number of people needing free food boxes is going up, and that there’s no end in sight to that rise. Steve Bolton, who is the Regional Development Officer for the Trussell Trust says the demand for their services has been higher since the start of the school holidays. (TAPE)
STEVE BOLTON: We anticipate that rise continuing as has already been indicated. And of course once we get beyond the Summer into the Winter, you’re then into people having to pay more for fuel costs. And we know fuel costs are going up as well, as well as food prices going up. So the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Karl Relton is the Chair of Trustees at the Ely Food Bank. They’ve seen demand rise by 15% in the past three months. And the three months before that another 15%. He said the other safety nets meant to be in place to help people who are struggling are not really working. (TAPE)
KARL RELTON: There’s just something in the system, in the way it works, specially in the delays. It’s benefit delays and benefit problems is always the biggest cause of people needing to come to us. And now with the trimming of benefits, we are seeing the results of that squeeze on people. (LIVE)
PAUL STAINTON: Tom in Peterborough feels it’s disgraceful that people are having to go to food banks when we give out money to other countries in foreign aid. Many of you commenting this morning. Some people are saying, well, don’t have kids if you can’t afford them. Well I suppose if your circumstances change what can you do. I’m joined by Helen Crowther who’s the Society Policy Coordinator at the Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau. Morning Helen.
HELEN CROWTHER: Morning.
PAUL STAINTON: We’ve heard some awful stories this morning of people, and you think to yourself there but for the grace of God go I. Continue reading “Breakdown Of The Welfare State”