Demand at a Bolton foodbank has reached record levels, a charity has said.

Homeless Aid UK based in Bolton has seen a huge increase in the number of people visiting, with those who run it saying they have never 'seen it this bad'.

Figures from the Trussell Trust revealed that 3,387 food parcels were handed out in Bolton in the year to March in the area's two distribution centres, compared to 2021-22 where 2,528 were handed out.

The charity, the country's leading operator of food banks, distributes millions of food parcels to those in need every year.

The charity says that the rise is due to a product of problems with the UK's welfare system – not just the pandemic and cost of living crisis.

The Bolton News:

Homeless Aid UK’s (based in Bolton) co-founder, Billa Ahmed, says he believes the increase is as a result of a combination of factors, including the cost-of-living crisis, where products have increased in supermarkets, as well as gas and electric increases.

He said: “We have never seen it has bad and we have seen a massive increase.  

“Even people who are employed and have their own businesses because they can’t afford the basic necessities.

“We don’t stop from the minute we get in; the phones are constantly ringing.

“People don’t have enough money to live on and people are going hungry.”

He also says that as a result of the demand that the organisation has had to keep their foodbank open for longer.

Last year in Bolton 1,479 of these parcels – 44 per cent– were given to children.

In 2021-22 this figure was 1,016 (40 per cent).

Across the UK, a total of 2,986,203 emergency food parcels were given out between April 2022 and March this year – up 37 per cent on the year before.

The Bolton News:

These figures cover parcels handed out by the Trussell Trust itself, but do not include emergency food supplies provided by other charities and organisations.

Billa also says that they in more need than ever for donations bto run their foodbank and street kitchen.

They are particularly in need of food that people don’t have to cook due to some struggling to afford their gas and electric.

Along with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, an anti-poverty charity, the Trussell Trust is urging the Government to adopt an 'essentials guarantee', ensuring Universal Credit payments always cover the cost of basic essentials.

Across the North West, 347,976 parcels were handed out in the year to March – up 37 per cent from 253,084 the year before.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “We are committed to eradicating poverty, and we recognise the pressures of the rising cost of living, which is why we have uprated benefits by 10.1 per cent as well as making an unprecedented increase to the National Living Wage this month.

“This is on top of changes already made to Universal Credit which mean claimants can keep more of their hard-earned money – a boost worth £1,000 a year on average.

“We are also providing record levels of direct financial support for the most vulnerable.”

Homeless Aid UK’s soup kitchen has now opened an extra day due to the number of people in need, now open five days a week.

For anyone interested in using the foodbank in Bolton, call them on 0800 124 0641.

The foodbank is open six days a week, but available in case of an emergency where someone may be elderly or vulnerable, and they will try and accommodate as much as possible.

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