Worcester Foodbank seeing more people in employment

Volunteers at Worcester Foodbank said they are seeing an increase in the number of people in employment needing their services.

Ruth Allsopp, Operations Coordinator at the foodbank in Lowesmoor, said she has seen an increase of new clients who have never used a Foodbank before. 

She says more people are using the services in order to cope with the increasing energy prices. 

Mrs Allsopp said: "Energy bills are the most frequent cost of living expense.

"It's so extreme and even people who have quite a good buffer of money are seeing it being swallowed up by energy prices. 

"The increasing cost of energy is making it harder for people to afford anything, which is why they are turning to Foodbanks.  

"There is no light at the end of the tunnel, if anything we have been told it will get worse. It's quite daunting and scary for people." 

Worcester food bank parcel (Image: Example of a food parcel from Worcester Foodbank)

Worcester Foodbank provides clients with food parcels with enough food to last them three days but some people try to make the parcel last six days by rationing themselves to eat one meal a day.  

Mrs Allsopp said: "We have the stock to support people if they need more food.

"But many people do spread the meals sometimes, we talk to clients who haven't eaten in three days.

"We tell people to not leave it till then. People need to get in touch when they have reached a crisis. 

"They are worried about taking food from someone else who might be more desperate. 

Mrs Allsopp says that the Foodbank is there to support people but they also don't want to exist because that would mean no one is going hungry.

"We want to support people and give them food but we also don't want to exist." 

Mrs Allsopp said people can be apprehensive about coming to the Foodbank.

She says: "Don't be worried about coming to us, we treat people with kindness and compassion. Don't feel scared about asking us for help."