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.
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