SUE Keogh, the co-ordinator of the Crediton Foodbank has issued the following report for the year 2017:

How many people used the foodbank last year?

During 2017 we saw a rise in numbers of people using the Foodbank.

In 2017 we issued a total of 268 parcels and this fed 426 adults and 185 children. The first three months of the year were particularly hectic, to the extent that we had to organise a special one-day collection of groceries at Tesco to restock. We also gave out 25 Christmas hampers.

Why do people need to use the Foodbank?

As in previous years, many are referred because of benefit delays, cuts and sanctions but the number coming simply because of very low income has increased. They may have had a benefit withdrawn permanently and are struggling to cope without it or be on low wages. The rise in living costs has an obvious impact.

We have had a few individuals this year who have been homeless and many people have underlying problems with debt, mental health problems, other illness and family problems.

There is no official limit to how many times people can come as having a struggle with money can last weeks or even months.

Anyone who comes to see us at the Foodbank can be sure of a warm welcome.

It is normal for people to select the groceries they prefer. We provide fresh, chilled and frozen food bought with cash donations. It is great to be able to offer this as well as tins and packets of non-perishable items. We can usually supply toiletries, cleaning products and even pet food.

What is the process to be followed to get food?

We continue to require referrals from agencies as this has seemed to be the fairest way to ensure that clients are in genuine need and are getting some support with their money problems as well. There is evidence that when referral agencies are themselves under pressure, fewer people are referred by them. This is worrying, as access to this key safety net is apparently becoming more difficult.

People can obtain referral vouchers from Crediton Library, Crediton Doctors’ Surgeries, Health Visitors and School Nurses, some Housing Associations, CHAT (Churches Housing Action Team), Citizens’ Advice, Action for Children, Mental Health Team, Social Services, Age Concern, all church ministers, Mid Devon District Council Money Advice team, and all Crediton Schools.

Once you have a voucher, you can bring it to the Foodbank, at the Manse (attached to the Crediton Congregational Church on the left) on Tuesdays, between 10am and 12 noon or Fridays between 6.30pm and 7.30pm and you can collect your food. This should last you five to seven days.

If you would like help to use the Foodbank please call the Foodbank telephone number (07740 202721), leave your name, number and message and someone will get back to you.

Who runs the foodbank?

The Foodbank is overseen by Christians Together in Crediton. It is co-ordinated and run by volunteers. The team is largely unchanged from last year, and we are very grateful for all their hard work.

Members are enthusiastic and now quite experienced. Dating and sorting is now efficient, and we rarely get out-of-date groceries left over. This year we have had to decline kind offers of voluntary help from members of the community as we are fully staffed.

Volunteers from Crediton Churches also took part in the three-day food collections at Tesco in July and December to support other Foodbanks as well as our own.

These collections were magnificently supported, and donations pour in from many sources throughout the year. Tesco’s Community Champion Andrew Drayton has been very helpful to us in managing the supply of groceries.

A special mention must go to the villagers of Zeal Monachorum who have been tireless in their support of the Foodbank. They regularly bring groceries and financial donations which they have raised by running events as well as by collecting individual gifts.

Challenges

• As ever, the matching of supply to demand is a challenge. As mentioned above we arranged an additional emergency collection of groceries in the Spring as we ran out. Now the Foodbank is so well stocked that we have closed the Tesco collection box and asked our regular donors to hold off for a while. Demand has dropped again for reasons we do not know.

• How to be sure that everyone who needs to use the Foodbank is aware of it and how to make use of it.

• The new benefit, Universal Credit will be “rolled out” to Mid Devon from June 2018 and this may mean more people needing to use the Foodbank while their claims are being processed.

The Foodbank is a great resource for people who are going through hard times and it is wonderful that the community of Crediton have so much taken it to their hearts.

I guess we can all imagine how awful it must be to have no food in the cupboard. Thanks to everyone who has supported and used the Foodbank in any way over 2017.

Sue Keogh

Foodbank Co-ordinator