Foodbank ready for increase in demand

More people are expected to need the help of Newark and Tuxford Foodbank when changes to the benefits system are introduced in the area.

In the charity’s annual report, chairman Mr Steve Charnock said where Universal Credit had already started, foodbanks experienced an average 52% increase of usage the following year.

"This is obviously an area of concern and will need to be closely monitored as Newark rolls out Universal Credit this year," he said.

For the year ending March 2018, three days of emergency food were given to 1,822 adults and children by the foodbank.

The figure, 7.7% lower than the previous year, bucked the national trend.

However, the foodbank distributed more food to those in need by supplying other groups offering support, including a women’s refuge, Help The Aged, and social, housing and hospital agencies.

A total of 19.9 tonnes of food was distributed from the 20.8 collected, compared with 18.5 distributed the previous year.

The report said the main reasons people needed the foodbank were a delay in benefit payments (35%) low income (26%) benefit change (12%) and debt (8%).

A collection in the Newark branch of Asda in June led to more than 500kg of donations.

Christmas and harvest are peak times for collections with donations also coming from churches, shops and organisations around the town. There are also collection points in Southwell.

All the donations are taken to a warehouse for stocktaking and preparation for distribution.

People using the service usually need to have a voucher issued by one of the referral agencies.

The foodbank is open at Barnbygate Methodist Church, Newark, on Tuesdays, from 3pm to 5pm, and on Fridays, from 1pm to 3pm.

Tuxford Foodbank, which operates as a satellite, is open in the Methodist Church in the village on Tuesdays, from 10am to 1pm.

The charity has 40 volunteers with a further ten people able to step in when needed.

It is happy to receive inquiries from anyone interested in helping.

Jenni Harding, of the foodbank, said the community had been extremely generous.

"We are overwhelmed by the support we get in the Newark and Southwell areas," she said.

Manager Lesley Marshall said many people went to get help with essential food supplies and also because they knew there would be someone happy to listen.

"We try to signpost them on to where they can get help," she said.

Meals are available for those in need five days a week in Newark.

On Monday evenings, food is available at the Impact project at Albert Street Baptist Church; those with vouchers can get something to eat at the foodbank on Tuesdays and Fridays; a community meal is available at Carriages, Newark Castle Station, on Wednesday evenings; and an open kitchen is at Albert Street Baptist Church, on Thursday lunchtimes.

"No one needs to go hungry in Newark," said Jenni.