Current Events > Demand for UK food banks rises 66% after conservatives cut welfare again.

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Demand rises at almost 70% of food banks after Universal Credit cut

Food banks have had to provide for more people every week this past month.Food banks are struggling to keep up with a recent surge in families depending on them to stay afloat.

Boris Johnsons government introduced an extra 20 a week for those on Universal Credit during the pandemic.

Despite many ministers pushing for this to become permanent, the scheme ended on October 3.

Since then, food banks have seen a 66% increase in people needing help from them, according to a survey done by the Independent Food Aid Network (Ifan).

The research, shared with The Independent, also showed that 45% of food bank managers were considering whether they should cut food parcels down.

Many said they were worried they would eventually have to turn any new people away.

Dads House food bank in West Brompton, London, usually gives food parcels to about 250 households a week.

But in the last few weeks, workers have had to scramble to provide for around 400 families, manager William McGranaghan said.

Supply chain issues are making the issue much worse

He added: The universal credit cut is a nightmare, because 86 a month is a lot. Its pushed people into trouble quickly.

Manager Tina Harrison has already started reducing parcels to the very basics to make up for the excess demand.

She said: Some families have asked whether there will be enough food. Some have told us theyre wondering whether theyll have to turn their heating off.

Similarly, Second Chance Medway in Kent has seen an extra 20-25 people each week this month.

The team is usually able to make sure they have enough food supply for three months. But now, they only have one months worth.

To make things worse for food banks, this is all happening while the country grapples with a supply chain crisis.

Some 63% have reported that they are struggling to get all the stock they need, and the current shortage of lorry drivers it making it hard to get groceries to the right place.

A charity that distributes leftover products to different food banks around the country, Fareshare, said it was losing out on 30% of the stock it usually gets.

MORE: FOOD

Donations the other major way food banks get groceries are also dwindling.

Brits reeling from the pandemic are finding less money to spare and supermarkets themselves are experiencing a food shortage.

The Government has previously argued its 20 cut to the taxpayer-funded benefit was always a temporary measure during lockdowns and coronaivrus restrictions.

Ministers believe their fight against poverty will be better-won with higher wages as part of Mr Johnsons plan to level up Britain.

The Department of Work and Pensions said: We know the best route towards financial independence is through well-paid work, which is why our multi-billion pound Plan for Jobs is helping boost skills and opportunity, while Universal Credit continues to provide a vital safety net for millions.

The Household Support Fund is helping the most vulnerable with essential costs through this winter, and is distributed by councils, who are best placed to ensure those in need in their local areas can be identified and supported as soon as possible.



Government can't afford to feed its people or pay its nurses but it can afford 90 million for a literally useless track'n'trace app designed by Boris" mates, Billions for a mostly useless HS2 designed by Boris' mates , and of course Boris needs a few more luxury houses

And yet everyone keeps voting for tories and cheering them on


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Are there any riots over this shit?

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over here (finland), the people lining up for those rarely actually need it, they just go and get the free food so they have more money for booze, cigarettes and other garbage

it's also fashionable for students to stand in line and pretend that they're poor

1337toothbrush posted...

Are there any riots over this shit?

no but there needs to be

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1337toothbrush posted...

Are there any riots over this shit?

Nope

just anti vaxxers rioting over vaccines and covid prevention

The UK massively supports conservatives and Applauds these measures

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Kaiganeer posted...

over here (finland), the people lining up for those rarely actually need it, they just go and get the free food so they have more money for booze, cigarettes and other garbage

it's also fashionable for students to stand in line and pretend that they're poor

We get the same rhetoric from conservative mouthpieces about students abusing the food bank system here in the UK, so I'd take that with a pinch of salt tbh

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Xavier_On_High posted...

We get the same rhetoric from conservative mouthpieces about students abusing the food bank system here in the UK, so I'd take that with a pinch of salt tbh

Yeah its complete bollocks

brought to you by the same folks that made "vaccines kill more people than the virus " and "The wealth will trickle down "

it's just reality denial

Nearly all people using food banks are families or elder people. Near all wearing tatty clothes that don't fit properly. Students would stick out like a sore thumb

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UnfairRepresent posted...

brought to you by the same folks that made "vaccines kill more people than the virus " and "The wealth will trickle down "

goddamn british republican's.
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UnfairRepresent posted...

The UK massively supports conservatives and Applauds these measures

It's not just that. Our labour party is massively disorganized and divided. They'd also rather stab each other in the backs based on past events. They're a fucking joke.

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SpiritSephiroth posted...

It's not just that. Our labour party is massively disorganized and divided. They'd also rather stab each other in the backs based on past events. They're a fucking joke.

This is true but the Conservative party is no better

if anything they in fight and power struggle more. How many interval conflicts did Cameron, May and Boris have between them? about 17?

they just always win comfortably anyway due to mass public support

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I think it's the conservative goal to hold society back and technology back, a fair society and advanced technological society means death to conservative beliefs. They want to be stuck in the 1950s

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ncsonic posted...

I think it's the conservative goal to hold society back and technology back, a fair society and advanced technological society means death to conservative beliefs. They want to be stuck in the 1950s

yup

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Complete bollocks indeed
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