Rising number of cash-strapped families turning to food banks

Food banks are operating in every area of Scotland as increasing numbers of desperate families turn to charity for help in the run up to Christmas.

Shock new figures show there are now more than 100 food banks across the country, helping to feed thousands of cash-strapped Scots every week.

But it is thought these figures are just the tip of the iceberg with dozens more unofficial centres being run by churches and community groups.

At one food bank in Fife staff reported helping a malnourished man who had not eaten for four days.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s social justice spokeswoman, said: “Food banks show the best and worst of Scotland the best in that people who care about their communities come together to help their neighbours and friends, the worst in that we still need them in the 21st Century, and the number are growing.

“Tackling the type of poverty that drives people to food banks should be the first priority of any government.

“Instead, David Cameron is pursuing policies that create them and Alex Salmond is too busy with a referendum to bother.”

Figures compiled by Labour and The Sunday Post show there are a total of 101 food banks in Scotland, with at least one in every council area.

Glasgow has the most with 21 centres.

Most of the food banks are run by charities such as the Trussell Trust, which has 42 centres north of the border and is planning to open a further 17.

Last month the charity reported a five-fold increase in the number of Scots turning to its food banks for emergency aid.

Between April and September, 23,073 people were referred to the Trussell Trust’s for three days’ worth of food comprising 16,465 adults and 6,608 children.

That compared with 4,021 people in the same months of 2012 2,786 adults and 1,235 children

However, the true scale of food bank crisis is not known as it is thought there are dozens more operating from local churches which officials don’t know about.

Citizens Advice Scotland’s Chief Executive Margaret Lynch said: “The number of people who have to use food banks today is truly shameful.

“It paints a bleak picture of a Dickensian society. There is something very wrong when so many people are unable to meet the most basic need of putting food on the table for themselves and their children.

“Scottish advisers have referred nearly 1,000 people to food banks since April.

“But we also see many other clients who are on the verge of needing a food bank.”

It is estimated two to three new food banks open in Britain every week.

Alison Nelson, who helps run a church-organised food bank in Methil, Fife, said people often turned up without having eaten for a number of days.

She said: “There have been a number of people who hadn’t eaten for two or three days and then the poor man who hadn’t eaten for four. I wouldn’t say that the majority haven’t eaten, but it does happen.

“It’s even more common that parents go without food so their children can eat what little they have.

“They’re often depressed, low and embarrassed.”