I have read much lately in the local press about the growing numbers of people living in Teesside who are having to turn to food banks in crisis. Recently in the Northern Echo it stated that in Redcar since July 2013 over 15,600 people have used the food bank. In the past year in Thornaby the food bank at the Baptist Church has handed out more than 1,200 food parcels, in Billingham over 6,000 people used the food bank there.
In Middlesbrough, 5,200 food parcels where given out in 2015 alone. This is of great concern and it is not until you delve into the figures and the spreadsheets that the realisation of the growing poverty gap is widening here on Teesside.
There is estimated to be a further 10,000 parcels handed out through small independent food banks and churches within the area. These are worrying times and we are yet to see the full scale of what the current system has yet to throw at us. Universal Credit changes are coming in the new year and in my opinion I believe that we will see greater pressures put onto the already over demanded food banks operating.
That is why on November 1st I will be opening a second food bank within Thornaby. The management and running of the food bank will have a fresh approach and operate slightly different to others in the area. We will be opening out of hours for families and parents who are in low paid work to give them access to parcels which will see the Thornaby Community Partnership join forces with Organisations in Stockton to get the help people in Thornaby need.
In Middlesbrough, 5,200 food parcels where given out in 2015 alone. This is of great concern and it is not until you delve into the figures and the spreadsheets that the realisation of the growing poverty gap is widening here on Teesside.
There is estimated to be a further 10,000 parcels handed out through small independent food banks and churches within the area. These are worrying times and we are yet to see the full scale of what the current system has yet to throw at us. Universal Credit changes are coming in the new year and in my opinion I believe that we will see greater pressures put onto the already over demanded food banks operating.
That is why on November 1st I will be opening a second food bank within Thornaby. The management and running of the food bank will have a fresh approach and operate slightly different to others in the area. We will be opening out of hours for families and parents who are in low paid work to give them access to parcels which will see the Thornaby Community Partnership join forces with Organisations in Stockton to get the help people in Thornaby need.
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