Revealed: Shame of the growing number of working Scots who have to rely on food banks, by Andy Philip, Daily Record

 DESPERATE Scots on low wages are forced to rely on charity hand-outs over Christmas.

RECORD numbers of desperate Scots on low wages were forced to rely on food banks over Christmas, a major charity said yesterday.

About 10,500 adults and children were given a three-day supply of “emergency” food in December, according to the Trussell Trust.

Shockingly, low income climbed above benefit changes or delays as the main reason given by people referred for help across the country.

The total was a 13 per cent increase from the 9263 people using the trust’s 48 food banks in the same month in 2013.

The final figure is likely to be even higher as volunteers continue to update their databases.

Ewan Gurr, the charity’s network manager for Scotland, said: “Low income is normally behind benefit problems, but topped the reasons in December last year and 2013.

“It highlights the impact of the rising cost of food and fuel.

“When you add to that insecure employment and poor wages, it’s a lethal

cocktail. Deeply concerning are the words to describe it.”

He added: “In the most harrowing accounts, we hear from the families choosing whether to prioritise heating their homes or feeding their families and parents losing weight because they overlook their own health and wellbeing to feed their children.

Read more here:

Further Reading:

Record numbers use Scottish food banks by By Marc Ellison Data journalist, BBC Scotland

Record numbers use Scottish food banks by By Marc Ellison Data journalist, BBC Scotland

 Trussell Trust food banks were visited by 10,489 people in December 2014

 - a third of them were children

A record number of adults and children relied upon food banks in Scotland in December, according to new figures obtained by the BBC.

Nearly 10,500 people visited the Trussell Trust's 48 food banks for the first time in the charity's history.

The data also reveals a third of users cited low income - and not welfare benefit delays - for their predicament.

The figure is a 13% increase from the 9,263 people who used a Trussell Trust food bank in December 2013.

BBC Scotland wants your help in compiling a definitive list of all the food banks in Scotland. Please take just one minute to fill out this short form with details of your local food bank(s).

In December 2014, 10,489 people visiting Scottish food banks were given a three day supply of nutritionally balanced food by the charity - a third of them children.

The charity underlined that the final figure for December visits is likely to be even higher as food bank staff continue to input data into their system.

'Harrowing accounts'

Ewan Gurr, the charity's network manager for Scotland, said he was concerned that many low income families were forced to face hunger in the run-up to Christmas due to financial difficulties.

Read more here:

Southport Library supports local Foodbanks

Sefton Council reintroduces food for fines

Southport Library

The successful ‘food for fines’ scheme will return to Sefton libraries through December and January to support local foodbanks during the busy winter months.

Library users will again be given the option of paying off fines with a foodbank donation instead of cash.

Sefton Council will write off £1 for any item of non-perishable food between December 8 and January 3.

Up to a maximum of £10 can be paid off in this way.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton’s Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, Families and Leisure, said: “With foodbanks across the borough expecting to be busier than ever this Christmas, we decided to bring back the food for fines scheme.

“The scheme enables library users to continue, the high levels of support that we have already seen from our communities for foodbanks through both volunteers and donations, while also paying off existing book fines.

“The initiative has proven very successful in the past and we hope to see even more donations this winter.”

The food for fines scheme runs at all public libraries in Sefton.

Please check with you local Library regarding opening times over the festive period or visit www.sefton.gov.uk/libaries

Read the full story here

Rescue the Perishing

Last week, I had the privilege of being part of a group of volunteers  collecting both money and food on behalf of  well-known charity that need both money and food to help those in our community that the Christmas period instead of being a time of happiness and enjoyment is a time of stress and heart-break .  I was really blessed and encouraged to be part of a team that seeks to help those at this difficult time,  earlier this week I was saddened and shocked to watch a TV programme called Benefits Britain,   that showed high levels of poverty and deprivation in a Blackpool.

It’s very easy to be sanitized to poverty and deprivation on our doorsteps,  when we see news reports on foreign crisis and political upheaval  or caught up with our own problems, desires, issues, dreams or our well intentioned plans.

The church that I’m part off,  is located next to a lake and is used for a variety of water sports,  because it’s winter and there have been high tides and high winds,  today I noticed that a sailing dinghy had capsized and while the sailor had fallen into the lake,  there was a rescue launch that had come to rescue the sailor and to make sure the sailing dinghy was able to continue its voyage  ,  I was sitting in my normal seat and was enjoying the time of fellowship , and because of the bad weather the local marine lake had higher waves than usual I noticed that a sailing dinghy was capsized, fortunately  before I could go into Baywatch mode,  a rescue launch had come to the rescue of the stricken sailor.

The Lord spoke to me through this,  that we the church in the words of the hymn are to rescue the perishing ,  we have a comfortable form of  westernized Christianity,  well meaning,  polite , perfect all the t’s crossed and i’s dotted , we need to have a brand of brave,  engaging,  challenging missionary church that says no to the status quo,  that risks all,  it’s reputation,  recognition and respectability .

“Not called!' did you say?

'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.

Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face — whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.”

― William Booth

While women weep, as they do now,

I'll fight

While little children go hungry, as they do now,

I'll fight

While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now,

I'll fight

While there is a drunkard left,

While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,

While there remains one dark soul without the light of God,

I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!”

― William Booth

“Some want to live within the sound

Of church or chapel bell;

I want to run a rescue shop,

Within a yard of hell.”

― C.T. Studd

Today in a leading national newspaper,  the Archbishop of Canterbury,  Justin Welby mentioned the growing need  for Foodbanks here in the United Kingdom

State must back food banks, says Welby: Archbishop of Canterbury steps into austerity row with radical report

1.      Archbishop called for £150m state-backed system to combat hunger in UK

2.    He called on PM to reverse decision not to take EU funds for food banks

3.     Archbishop is to launch a Parliamentary report in Westminster on Monday

4.    Report's proposals call for bigger food banks to distribute more free food

5.     Also asks for a provision for free school meals during school holidays

A new row over food banks erupted last night after a report backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury called for a £150 million state-backed system to combat hunger in Britain.

The Most Reverend Justin Welby appeared to be on course for a clash with David Cameron after calling on the Prime Minister to reverse his decision not to take European funds to boost UK food banks.

Writing in today’s Mail on Sunday, Archbishop Welby makes a powerful call for more help to prevent families going hungry. The Archbishop is to launch a Parliamentary report in Westminster tomorrow, and calls on the Government to take ‘quick action’ to implement its recommendations in full.

Read more here from the Daily Mail

In  past generations,  Christians such as William Wilberforce and the 7^th Earl of Shaftesbury were noted social reformers ,   we need those amongst us to become social reformers or missionaries to our communities.

Isaiah 58:6-14New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

6 ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

    and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

    and break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry

    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness[a] will go before you,

    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

    you will cry for help, and he will say: here am I.

‘If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10 and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

    and your night will become like the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you always;

    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

    and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

    like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 ‘If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

    and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

    and the Lord’s holy day honourable,

and if you honour it by not going your own way

    and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14 then you will find your joy in the Lord,

    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land

    and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.’

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Finally,  the Lord is calling again

Isaiah 6:8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Isaiah’s Commission

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Be Blessed today

Blair Humphreys

Southport, Merseyside

7^th December 2014