News / Another big rise in demand for food parcels
THERE has been a more than 40 per cent year-on-year rise in the number of food parcels being handed out in Shetland in the first four months of 2015.
Figures provided by the Lerwick-based, Salvation Army-run service show that 123 parcels have been distributed between January and April. That compares with 87 in the first four months of last year and 76 for the corresponding period in 2013.
David Grieve of the local Salvation Army said the latest figures demonstrated how demand for the service was continuing to grow in what is one of the wealthiest and most economically prosperous parts of the country.
“Reasons for people being referred to us continue to be wide-ranging and still come from the same wide variety of agencies and council departments etc.,” he said
Some of those coming forward in February and March had done so because, with seasonal work in fish factories and other industries coming to an end, workers found themselves on benefits with “nothing to fall back on”.
“It tends to be a one-off situation in most people’s cases,” Grieve told Shetland News. “Not all of the people we’ve dealt with this year have been regular – it tends to be quite often new faces.
“We don’t have many people who are back more than twice at most – there are one or two who regularly get into problems every few months – but most clients are waiting for a benefit or [have been] sanctioned on a benefit for some bureaucracy reason.”
Some Tory politicians have controversially suggested the growing use of food banks is simply down to public awareness of the availability of free handouts, for which demand is potentially unlimited.
Grieve said it was probably true that more people were coming forward due to greater publicity. But he dismissed any notion that those receiving food parcels were freeloaders.
“Publicity through all the stuff we had over Christmas has certainly raised the profile,” he said. “We’re not seeing any new clients who are chancing it in any way, the need is genuinely there.”
Grieve said some of those visiting the Commercial Road premises for food aid are “apologetic” and appeared to feel guilty for having to resort to a handout.
But he feels it is now becoming “more acceptable” for people who may in the past have struggled on to come forward and accept help.
Agencies working with people living in poverty have apportioned part of the blame to benefit changes and spending cuts in recent years. Grieve added that the new universal credit won’t come into play in Shetland until July and “it might have an impact when it kicks in”.
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