“A lot of working people” are “just not able to cover their living costs”, the manager of an Isle of Wight energy charity told Shanklin Town Council last week.
In an update on fuel and food poverty at Falcon Cross Hall, the Footprint Trust’s Laura Stitchbury said many users of Shanklin’s foodbank were in work – “on the cusp” of not being able to claim benefits, but unable to make ends meet.
33% increase the use of Island foodbanks
Ms Stitchbury addressed residents and councillors amid a continuing cost-of-living crisis, with a recent council report showing a 33 per cent increase in the use of Island foodbanks.
She said,
“In the last five years, our area has very much been in fuel poverty – supporting people who are unable to pay energy bills.
“When I first started working for the Footprint Trust, most people had to ask what fuel poverty was, whereas now I’m sure almost everybody here is aware, with the cost of living crisis and energy bills doubling over the past few years, in most communities it’s really quite prevalent.
“The foodbank in Shanklin has a range of people – a lot come in with support workers, they’re already on the more vulnerable side of things, there’s been homeless people who use that foodbank as well.
“People attending for the first time are very emotional and they’re cautious about who they speak to, so for us it’s really important that we have a presence there and people feel they can come to us and that we are approachable.”
Ms Stitchbury said a lot of working people are accessing the foodbank because they are just not able to cover their living costs. She said the biggest users of the Isle of Wight foodbank are single working people.
Sheath: Exploring a meeting place for support
Speaking after the meeting, Shanklin mayor Councillor Sara Sheath said,
“As town councillors we have sign posted residents to (cost-of-living) support and have put information on our noticeboard, website and in our monthly Beacon article to assist in spreading the word.
“Having listened to Laura, we will now look into how we can support our residents and discussions around the feasibility of providing a meeting point in Falcon Cross Hall so that agencies and organisations that support residents can come together and be available to speak to all in one place.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
