FORMER MP turned metro mayor Andy Burnham visited Atherton and Leigh Foodbank this week to show his support for their new initiative amid rising food bank usage.
Following the difficulties of the cost of living crisis, more emergency food parcels have been given out by the Atherton and Leigh food bank since April 2022 than in any previous year.
5,380 people were forced to turn to the local food bank in the past ten months, and the organisation expects to see a 50% increase in the total distributed parcels by the end of March 2023 compared to the previous year.
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With skyrocketing numbers of families in need of food parcels, the foodbank has now launched its Financial Inclusion Hub, which will provide free financial inclusion advice and support to foodbank clients.
Running in addition to the organisation's food donation project, the hub will help struggling clients get their lives back on track and try to reduce the urgent need for food banks in the area.
Revd. Reg Sinclair, Chair of the Atherton and Leigh Foodbank Trustees, said, “Our foodbank has been open for 10 years and often clients come with issues other than simple lack of food, such as debt, benefit sanctions, and other issues.
“We are therefore pleased to provide on-site support through the Citizen Advice Bureau, Christians Against Poverty and Unify Credit Union.
"Our aim is to help prevent people needing to come back for more food, by ensuring they have the essentials to manage day to day."
With the Mayor of Greater Manchester invited to formally open the Financial Inclusion Hub, this gave volunteers the opportunity to show Leigh's former MP the work being undertaken to help those in crisis.
On his visit, Andy Burnham paid tribute to the work and generosity of the staff, volunteers, distribution centres, agencies, and the people within the local community who donate food to the food bank.
Mr Burnham said: “I am delighted to have been invited to the launch of the Financial Inclusion Hub at Atherton and Leigh food bank. I have supported Atherton and Leigh Foodbank and the amazing work they do for the last 10 years.
“Atherton and Leigh food bank has been helping people in food crisis since 2013 but now with the launch of the Financial Inclusion hub, they will be to help people with debt, benefit sanctions, and other issues.
“This additional welfare support that is being provided is vital for people who may have slipped through the normal welfare channels.”
With a commitment to supporting local people but fighting the eradicate the need for foodbanks, Revd. Sinclair added: “We need to live in a society where everyone has sufficient money for the essentials. Food should not have to be made available through a charity.
"We want to see a situation where foodbanks become redundant."
If people want to donate food, their time, or money to the Atherton and Leigh Foodbank, you can find out more information here.
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