It really is a sign of the times when George Eustice, the Food Minister, admits that some of Britain’s poorest families cannot afford to put food on the table.
His remarks made in response to a Commons question about food banks, followed a backlash from church leaders who blamed “cutbacks and failures in the benefit system” for forcing many people to visit food banks in the past year.
Whether you believe that there is a link between welfare reform and increased popularity of food banks or not, many now argue that increases in fuel bills have also contributed as many more people make choices between “heat or eat”.
Here at TU Fund Managers, we have supported a number of food banks during the past year, visting their centres, speaking to volunteers and learning more about how their users cope. We have been touched by the plight of many of these people, some of whom having fallen on difficult times through no fault of their own.
Food bank vouchers are given to people in crisis, who have been referred by front line professionals such as social workers. These individuals are allowed to use the food bank three times in one year, each time receiving enough food to last three days. And whilst the expectation is that this will give these people enough time to rectify the crisis that brings them there in the first olace, often this is not possible. There is no simple solution and maybe food banks are only papering over the cracks, but at least families get fed.
TU Fund Managers is proud to support the Trussell Trust and its food bank appeal. This year we will be extending our support via our charity, the T.U.U.T Charitable Trust.