MORE than 1,800 food parcels were given to Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge people by Highbridge Area Foodbank in 12 months - making it the biggest year in the foodbank's history.

The figures, released by Highbridge Area Foodbank and span the 12 months between April 2018 and March 2019, with a total of 1,843 emergency food packages handed out - 696 to children.

The total is a 8.5 per cent rise on the same period the year before, and an 18 per cent increase in the number of children fed.

Nick Bashford, chairman of trustees at Highbridge Area Foodbank, said many foodbank users are waiting 'at least five weeks' for their first Universal Credit payment, with many receiving payments that 'don’t cover the cost of essentials'.

He said: "I can confirm that April 18 to March 19 was our "biggest" year since our launch in 2012.

"No one should need a foodbank’s help and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all.

"It doesn’t have to be this way - our benefits system is supposed to protect us all from being swept into poverty. Universal Credit should be part of the solution but currently the five week wait is leaving many without enough money to cover the basics. This isn’t right."

Highbridge's figures feed into a larger national picture, with a record increase in food bank use across the UK reported by the Trussell Trust.

Figures from the Trussell Trust show that between April 2018 to March 2019 1,583,668 three-day emergency food parcels were given to people in crisis in the UK and more than half a million of these (577,618) went to children - an 18.8 per cent increase on the previous year.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “It is not true to say that people need to wait five weeks for their first payment. Universal Credit is available to claimants on day one.
“It also cannot be claimed that Universal Credit is driving the overall use of food banks or that benefit changes and delays are driving growth.The Trust’s own analysis shows a substantial fall in the share of parcels being issued due to benefit payment delays.
“The best route out of poverty is to help people into sustainable employment which, with record employment, we are doing.
“For those who need a safety net we have invested £10 billion into Universal Credit since 2016 alone, confirmed the benefits freeze will end next year and made changes to make Universal Credit fairer for women and families.”

Nick said Highbridge Area Foodbank will continue to support people in need and thanked residents for their ongoing support.

He said: "We’re dedicated to ensuring that people in our community without enough money for food are able to access emergency support.

"Our vital work in the community has only been possible in the last year because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds."