Foodbanks braced for huge surge in demand - The Worcester Observer

Foodbanks braced for huge surge in demand

Worcester Editorial 18th Oct, 2018   0

UNDER-PRESSURE city foodbank bosses have revealed the charity could need an additional 30 tonnes of supplies in the next 12 months to keep up with an increase in demand following the introduction of Universal Credit.

The controversial changes came into effect yesterday (Wednesday) and centre chiefs have warned it could lead Worcester’s Foodbank providing 30,000 extra meals.

Manager Grahame Lucas said the charity feared a 50 per cent rise in the number of mouths it has to feed over the coming year as the changes begin to take effect. It could leave the charity – which provided more than 6,200 emergency food parcels last year – facing the prospect of having to source even more stock.

“We’re preparing for the worst case scenario and we desperately need local people to keep giving as generously as they have been. Their support has sustained us and our clients through some very difficult times but this will be our biggest challenge to date,” he said.




Universal Credit replaces six benefits with one monthly payment and is already being claimed by single jobseekers.

From this week, anyone in Worcester who previously claimed income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working and Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit will instead claim Universal Credit.


The Conservative reforms aim to help people back into work but the system has attracted controversy with initial parts of the policy such as a seven day wait for new claimants to receive money scrapped earlier this year.

According to Child Poverty Action Group 6,600 families in Worcester and 11,300 children will be affected and Labour city council chiefs have claimed the new system could push people into debt.

Labour leader Coun Adrian Gregson, said: “The experience from pilot areas which have adopted Universal Credit is there is a 50 per cent increase in demand at foodbanks and large increases in rent arrears. Although council staff are trying to ensure support will be available, we remain concerned.

The five week wait for any payment, the need for online registration for the system and its impact on city residents who aren’t computer literate and the rental payments for tenants and landlords are among their concerns.

Whereas housing benefit is paid directly to landlords, Universal Credit is paid monthly to the claimant who is not familiar with their housing costs.

But Mike Dzioba from Worcester JobCentre Plus told the Observer the introduction of the system would be ‘slow and measured’ and said help would be on offer to all those affected.

“People don’t have to wait five weeks for a payment, advance payments will be available which can be paid back over 12 months,” he said.

“It’s an online system but we are working with the local authority to ensure help is available to those without a computer.”

Visit www.worcester.foodbank.org.uk for a list of items needed by the city’s Foodbank.

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