Like almost all food banks across the country April 2020 was our busiest month ever. Nationwide there was an 89% increase in emergency food parcels given to people compared to the same period in 2019. The number of families with children receiving parcels has almost doubled compared to same period last year.
Measures introduced by the government, including the Coronavirus Jobs Rentention scheme, the Self-Employment Income support Scheme and changes aimed specifically at people on low incomes have helped some people stay afloat. But these new figures warn far more people are needing food banks’ help than this time last year,with little sign of slowing. With these schemes set to wind down over the coming months and other measures proving to be insufficient,the charities say further action is urgently needed to ensure no one is left behind during this crisis.
A coalition of charities, including the Trussell Trust, IFAN, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Children’s Society, Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), StepChange and Turn2us,is urging the government to act quickly in providing a stronger lifeline to people to prevent many from being swept into destitution.
The coalition says a first step should be to make sure local authorities in England have enough funding to provide emergency cash grants so money can be put directly into people’s pockets quickly. An increase in funding to local authorities in England would help bring the government response on this type of support closer to that of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is one part of a temporary Coronavirus Emergency Income Support Scheme proposed by the coalition to ensure everyone has enough money in their pockets for essentials during this crisis.
The scheme would include:
- Increasing benefits that go to families to help with the costs of raising children
- Extending the suspension of benefit deductions to include advance payments – the loans offered to cover the five-week wait for a first Universal Credit payment
- Lifting the benefit cap to ensure this support scheme benefits everyone.