For the first time in four years Leeds has received fewer food parcels than the year previously.
Despite the cost-of-living crisis, recent data has shown that for the first time in four years fewer people in Leeds are receiving food parcels. This year, 34,943 parcels were handed out compared to last years, 35,256 and 9,119 of these were in Leeds Central and Headingly.
Although a small decrease overall, certain areas in Leeds the number of parcels being delivered has gone down significantly, even reaching up to a third decrease in three constituencies, except for the most populated area Leeds Central and Headingly which increased by 62.3%. Yet it only has a 2% higher population than the south of Leeds, which faced a decrease of 1.2%.
This data comes from the Trussell Trust who handed out 2.9 million parcels across the UK. The trust also works with Money Buddies a independent financial advice service to help those who need foodbanks to budget properly to help get them out of “crisis”.
The LS14 trust said they think more people will use pantries especially over the coming months however “people will choose whether to eat or heat” and they think that this way people can spend more on “the gas.”
Wendy Doyle the Operations Manager of Leeds South and East Foodbank said “We have seen a change in demographic using the foodbank over the past year” (…) “The amount of people using pour foodbank with referral has dropped, but other food support agencies in the city who do not use a referral system have increased.”
As the recent budget has been revealed Doyle said she is hoping it will be helpful and reduce the demand on their service. “Unfortunately, every budget seems to have the same impact and puts more people in debt” she added. However Louis Zarins-Brown thinks the child cap being removed is “great news” and will really help child poverty in the area. Zarins-Brown believes that the tax increase will impact the middle income and those he’s seen using foodbanks are in far more “financial crisis” to be impacted. Although he acknowledges “you do see now and then someone is in employment needing that support” it will be those in higher incomes who are affected and will “just have to shift the way that they have to spend their money.”
On a recent survey given out Leeds residents about their personal experiences with foodbanks, many people responded wanting “more accessibility” and to “find them near you easier”. Also those who have not used foodbanks but would like to donate to them, said they wanted “more awareness how to access them in order to donate.”
It’s not just the awareness and accessibility that impacts the amount of donations towards foodbanks and pantries. Wendy Doyle explained that as a charity “the cost of living crisis had a big effect on both customers and us as a charity”(…)”The amount of food being donated reduces but demand for our services increases.”