A CHANCE to learn about the problems facing many people in Devon in finding enough money to feed themselves and their families was taken by MP Mel Stride when he called at Crediton Food Bank.

The Central Devon MP is Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General, so he could talk with some knowledge about money and said he was grateful to those who shared their experiences with him.

He added that it had been "very humbling" to see the generosity of the community in terms of donations and time given by volunteers to staff the Food Bank which is based at Crediton Congregational Church.

Mel had been invited to see the work of the Food Bank by Co-ordinator and community support worker Chris Parsons so that they could give him up-to-date information on the local situation regarding food poverty.

During the past two years there has been a big increase in demand for food parcels, especially in September/October 2018 when Universal Credit was implemented in Mid Devon. In 2018, 106 different people used the foodbank, collecting 562 food parcels to feed 1,471 people.

This is a 231 per cent increase on 2017 and the number of children accessing the foodbank has increased by 285 per cent.

Chris explained that recipients of Universal Credit have to wait five weeks before receiving it and this means that many get into debt before they receive their first instalment and struggle to pay back any advance they may have received.

The lobby group End Hunger UK is recommending this be reduced to two weeks and this was raised as an issue with Mel Stride to take forward.

Many people receiving food parcels are in work but on very low incomes. An increase in the level of the living wage would enable them to be more self sufficient, as would a higher level in the amount paid through Universal Credit which has not kept pace with inflation.

Mel listened to these points and talked about what the government had already done and the pressure on funding for many services.

A Private Members Bill to measure food insecurity has been introduced in parliament, since at present the government has no way of knowing how many people do not have enough food and therefore cannot begin to put it right. Mel was also asked to support this Bill.

Two service users expressed their appreciation for the work of the Foodbank and the support they had received. However, they said there was a distinct lack of help at the Job Centres for people with mental health problems and that the wait for Universal Credit was unacceptable. Mel listened to their stories and offered to take an interest in their journey back to work.

Mel thanked Chris Parsons and all involved in the foodbank for organising the visit and for the work carried out there and said he would get back to them about the issues raised:

• Reducing the wait for Universal Credit to come through from five weeks to two

• Supporting the Bill to measure household food insecurity

• Finding out what training Job Centre Plus staff have to support people with poor Mental Health.

Chris added that in a rich country such as the UK there should be no need for foodbanks but sadly many people still don’t have enough money to cover their basic needs. One in five people in the UK live below the poverty line and Crediton Foodbank plays a vital role in providing support for local people in financial need.

The people of Crediton and the surrounding villages are very generous in their support as the foodbank would not exist without that.

Crediton Foodbank is a Christians Together in Crediton initiative, providing emergency food for local people in crisis.

Serving Crediton and its outlying villages it is run entirely on a voluntary basis and operates from the Manse - next door to the Congregational Church. Staff are caring, non-judgemental and treat user needs in strictest of confidence.