Concerns growing about what will happen when Universal Credit is rolled out

The borough's Foodbank fed a record number of people in Acton over the Christmas period, at one stage wiping out all the pantry donations.

The Charity is concerned about the growing need from local families and worried what the knock-on effects will be when Universal credit is rolled out this year.

Rory Thomas reports:

In early 2017, Ealing Food Bank moved from its offices in West Ealing, by Saint James Church, to St Mellitus Hall, Hanwell, where they now operate from.

The move was made possible thanks to a significant donation around the same time by a private bank, who wish to remain anonymous.

The new space adjacent to St Mellitus Church means the food bank could consolidate its storage capacity, and alleviated many logistical pressures. It also meant the charity could employ a part-time admin assistant, bringing their number to three part-time paid employees.

According to annual reports collated by the Trussell Trust, the food bank had served 4,100 individuals at the end of the financial year 2015/16.

By 2016/17 that number leapt to 4,920 (3040 adults and 1880 children), just in the borough of Ealing.

Since then, Ealing Food Bank has seen a 24 per cent increase in client usage in the year 2017/18. Head Administrator, Janet Fletcher, said: “We fed 5517 three-day meals in 2017. That’s adults and children.”

Janet has worked at Ealing Food Bank for over two years. She joined the organisation after volunteering with Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter.

“We are seeing all sorts”, she said “There doesn’t seem to be a particular demographic. But there does seem to be an increase in large families.” The numbers are measured by ‘people fed’ i.e. number of three-day emergency food parcels handed out.

They rely entirely on donations and the work of volunteers, currently at 184. The charity has collection baskets at Tesco, Waitrose and West Ealing Sainsbury’s, and Tesco Hoover Building twice a year. “We have a few Coop’s like Pitshanger, and Yedding also” Janet said.

They publish a renewed shopping list every month on their website for things they need. But they accept non-perishables without question. “We do ask for toiletries and household cleaning products.”

Food bank cafes are held in churches throughout the borough. Namely, Greenford Methodist Church (Mon and Sat), St Mellitus Church (Wed), the Oaktree Fellowship in Acton (Fri) Northolt Park Baptist church and St Anselm in Southall

The volunteers are a ‘faithful bunch of lovely people’, says Janet

Christmas and New Year 2017 were challenging times for the charity. Between 18th to 24th December they normally feed 106 people on average. This year they topped over 210. One café in Acton fed 80 people, wiping out their pantry.

Volunteers use their cars to move the stock to various cafes. This year extra deliveries were necessary over Christmas. “Acton and Southall were so big we had to hire a van” said Janet.

Janet, the charity, and its clients are concerned about the roll-out of Universal Credit in Ealing on 28th March. They are speaking with Job Centre Plus on how to prepare.

“We are in a strong position” Janet said, “We don’t know what the impact will be, but we are bracing ourselves.” According to Janet, other food banks in Hounslow and Fulham who already rolled-out Universal Credit are dealing with increased client usage.

Job Centre Plus are hoping the changes the government made in last budget regarding advanced access means people will not be tipped into crisis.

“The advance does mean it has to be paid back over a year instead of six months. The changes mean that clients might receive slightly lower benefits than on legacy benefit” Janet said. She fears food bank demand will grow when Universal Credit goes live in Ealing.

Janet says the phrase of the year is ‘robust referrals’. Working hard with their two hundred partners which include statutory bodies, council departments, and health and children charities to ensure those in genuine crisis receive continual engagement to overcome it. “We are part of their tool box” she said, speaking of their partners.

It also means quality training for their volunteers, so they can provide sound information and advice on how to better their clients circumstances, recommending other charities and services to approach. For example, clients need to be ‘computer literate’ in order to access their online communication, Janet explains.

The Food Bank does not serve any advisory function, but the charity is keen to maintain that clients receive ‘care and love’ when they arrive.

“It’s quite difficult to maintain that warm feeling that people will not just be processed, and maintain rigour at the same time. It’s like pedals on a bike

“Ealing Food Bank can only do what we do because of the people who support us. We feel privileged to work with such generous people. They are generous with their time, money, prayers, donations, food and gifts in kind” she said.

Ealing Food Bank is a registered charity and part of the Trussell Trust network of food banks, currently with 420 sites across the UK. They launched in October 2013 and are part of the ‘Churches Together’ initiative.

Rory Thomas Butler (Reporter)
Email: rory.t.butler@gmail.com
Twitter: @rorythomasb

31st January 2018