“Lifebuoy” of many Britons in the cost of living crisis

Food Bank

An overcast morning in Bradford, northern England, locals go to a bank food to receive boxes of food that have been described as a “lifesaver” during the worst cost of living crisis they have ever seen.

The Bradford Central Food Bank is supporting twice as many people as it did before the pandemic, as prices for energy, food and other basic commodities skyrocket, putting many people in dire straits.

“The numbers since I started volunteering have only multiplied. I can see the situation is getting worse,” Karl Carroll, 33, who has depended on a can of food since 2019 and is a volunteer at a food bank, told me. AFP.

“I only have about 40 pounds ($50) left after paying everything. Therefore, I imagine families facing even more difficulties.”

Simon Jackson, 43, has been dependent on a food bank since February. He used to be a supermarket worker and is unemployed.

“This is a tough time… the cost of living has skyrocketed to the point where we have to turn to food banks more.”

Jackson currently receives around £900 a month in support from the UK government but, like Carroll, when the bills are paid off, he has very little money left to buy food.

Rising prices make the situation worse.

“Places like this (food banks) in Bradford are lifesavers. They really help balance your choices – sometimes between heating and eating,” says Jackson.

Survival

One of the clearest signs of the crisis is the increased use of food banks.

The Trussell Trust charity says its more than 1,400 affiliated locations have given out 2.1 million boxes of food in 2021, 830,000 of these to children, up 14% from pre-COVID-19 levels.

The Trussell Trust activity in Bradford is held three days a week at a local church and supplies only three boxes of food per person for six months to control demand.

Each box contains basic foods such as cereals, canned soups, meat and fish, pasta, sauces, vegetables, cookies, sugar, tea and coffee.

Starting in 2011, it’s one of about 30 free food vendors in a city of more than half a million people and is helping around 1,000 people a month, says Josie Barlow, food bank manager Trussell Trust in Bradford, speak.

Bradford’s population lacks income 5th and underemployment 6th in the UK, according to the UK government’s poverty index released in 2019. This makes it especially vulnerable to the current situation.

“The people with the lowest incomes will be affected the most… they have to buy necessities but everything has gone up in price,” Barlow explains. She greets everyone with a smile and positive energy, directing them to the assistance desk.

Fear of winter

The British government on May 26 announced a new £15 billion support package aimed at the most vulnerable groups, as energy bills are forecast to increase by 42% in October, after increasing by 54% the previous month.

In Bradford, and elsewhere, that was not enough to allay fears of something worse to come.

Inflation in the UKwhich is at 9%, is forecast to rise even further – “washing away” any additional support.

“I get pretty scared when winter comes,” Barlow admits, noting summer allows people to skip heating.

“Winter is when you really need to warm up… I don’t know how they will survive.”

Jackson predicts the worst time will be Christmas, when families have to take care of gifts and food at the same time.

Simone Hillhands, 34, is one such case. She has three children, 10 years old, 13 years old and 15 years old. She cannot work full-time because she has to take care of a disabled child. The school directed her to the food bank to receive support.

“I need to take care of them,” she explained.

Hillhands does not want to reveal too much about his personal situation. Her sister recently became homeless. Her family is also in a “really difficult” situation because of rising prices.

“Price soars…it’s crazy,” lamented Hillhands. Last year, despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic, “everything is much easier to breathe”.