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.

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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.

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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

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Britain In 2014 Still Has Poor Hospitalised For Malnutrition, Huffington Post Uk

"It's getting worse because people can't afford good quality food. It's getting worse where malnutrition, rickets and other manifestations of extreme poor diet are becoming apparent," he said.

The number of people needing emergency supplies from food bank charity the Trussell Trust rose by more than a fifth this time last year, it said.

Charity director Adrian Curtis told the Daily Mirror they expect similar figures this year. "School holidays are especially difficult for low income families whose children usually receive free school meals or support from breakfast clubs," he told the newspaper.

In May a letter signed by 170 members of the faculty, the leading professional body for more than 3,300 public health specialists in the UK, was sent to David Cameron pressing for action over the issue of food poverty.

Part of the letter to the Prime Minister said: "Many hardworking families in the UK are living in poverty and do not have enough income for a decent diet."

Health Minister Dan Poulter said the rise in malnutrition could be down to better diagnosis. "We want to reduce levels of malnutrition, particularly amongst frail and elderly people," Poulter told the BBC. "We are working with Age UK on a half a million pound project, which aims to tackle the issue in a range of health and care settings. We've also given local authorities a £5.4bn budget over two years to help them manage public health issues, including malnutrition, in their areas."

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Food Banks: The 10 Most Common Myths And How To Challenge Them

Food banks to offer finance advice, The Scotsman

Financial advice is to be offered to people being referred to food banks after new research showed an “alarming” increase in those suffering money problems.

Food bank charity the Trussell Trust is launching a pilot scheme to give instant financial help and debt advice.

The move follows a six-figure donation by money saving expert Martin Lewis and could lead to the biggest change in how the charity’s network of 400 food banks operate since the trust was launched in 2000.

A survey of 4,000 adults showed that more than one in 10 took out a payday loan last year.

Some 900,000 people received three days’ emergency food from Trussell Trust food banks in the last financial year, an increase of 163% over the previous 12 months.

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For more on the Trussell Trust,  please  click here