Agenda item - FOODBANK

Agenda item

FOODBANK

Nigel Webster to provide a presentation

Minutes:

Nigel Webster of the Bestwood and Bulwell Food Bank delivered a presentation, which is issued with the initial publication of the minutes.

 

The following points, further to the information provided in presentation, were highlighted:

 

a)  the food bank has been operating for eight years and is based at St Philips Church, Knights Close in Top Valley, but serves a much broader population than just the Bestwood area;

 

b)  it is the biggest and busiest food bank in Nottingham and feeds more people than any other food bank across the City;

 

c)  this food bank has the lowest re-referral rate of any in the area and focuses on engaging with people to find out what their issues are and getting them the help they need. On average people attend for one half visits every six month period;

 

d)  graphs in the presentation illustrate referral rates, which are expected to rise again to approximately 3,500 by the end of March 2020. Although there are occasional dips in demand, overall need continues to rise;

 

e)  the most significant reason for acquiring food support has been the introduction of Universal Credit, where there is a delay in benefit payment;

 

f)  last year 1,438 children were fed and 1,687 adults. 46% of children were under the age of 16 years, which is significantly higher than the national food bank average of 30%;

 

g)  demand can vary enormously from week to week and month to month, although there are predicted peaks in winter, particularly in December, and during the summer holidays when free school meals are not available;

 

h)  access is through referral only via any of the partner agencies although DWP is by far the most active referrer;

 

i)  Tenancy Support Officers have previously attended sessions and Welfare Rights Officers are now working at the food bank to help support people. By the time people access food banks they are ready to accept help, so this support is welcomed;

 

j)  60% of attendees are from the Bestwood, Bulwell and Bulwell Forest area, with 40% from further away, including Hucknall;

 

k)  food donations come from a variety of sources including 30 churches, 40 local schools, 30 community groups, supermarket collection points, members of the public, and supermarkets directly, with a peak around the Christmas period;

 

l)  last year the food bank gave away approximately 30,000 kg food;

 

m)  there may be many reasons as to why people are referred to the food bank, but the most common combination is problems with the benefit system, ill-health or challenging life experiences, and lack of support;

 

n)  approximately 60 people volunteer at the food bank and do an amazing job.

 

Questions from the Committee were responded to as follows:

 

o)  people are referred due to a range of difficulties, including those employed but with a very low income. Food bank officers do try to collect information on people’s situations, and offer advice and support on how they can access further help, but not all referring agencies/partners provide comprehensive information so it is not possible at this time to gauge what proportion can be considered as working poor;

 

p)  more and more people cannot make ends meet, and whilst the food bank tries to assist, at the end of the day people just don’t have enough money;

 

q)  the majority of mental health referrals are from teams working from the Highbury Vale Hospital, but many more people referred may have hidden or underlying mental health issues;

 

r)  in some instances, where the housing allowance benefits is lower than the rent, people have to fund the difference from their benefits, which leaves them less money than Central Government provides as the minimum for people to survive on;

 

s)  where debts to DWP exist, DWP can claw back money from benefits at a rate which is higher than any lender would be allowed to apply. This compounds the existing problem of not enough money;

 

t)  of the 3,500 visits to the food bank last year, the majority were one-offs, a few were second time visitors, and a small minority were more frequent.

 

Members of the Committee expressed appreciation to the food bank volunteers, particularly as at times it must be very demoralising work.

 

In response to enquiring how partners in attendance could help support the food bank, Nigel requested that people continue their generous donations of food and welcomed any help or support from partners for people attending the food bank, particularly for face-to-face support such as at drop-in sessions. The more services that are brought together, the more people can be helped.

 

RESOLVED to record the thanks of the Committee to Nigel Webster for his attendance in presentation.

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