Aberdeen charity Instant Neighbour has faced an “influx of people” every time the inflation rate rises but concerns are growing as donations drop.
Foodbank manager Evan Adamson said people are facing a “massive feeling of fear and uncertainty” followed by “growing despondency” as people on lower incomes face a cost-of-living crisis of growing proportions.
He said the charity has been forced to keep strict limits on parcel sizes, as more people come to them reliant on fewer donations as a result of the issue.
He added more than a third of its clients seeking food parcels are new to the foodbank, highlighting growing demand for the support it offers residents of the north-east.
It comes as inflation rose to its highest level for more than 40 years today.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose to 11.1% in October from 10.1% in September – this is higher than expected.
How has everyday food risen in cost?
Food and drink inflation surged to the highest on record again last month.
Some examples of how the cost of food has risen in the past year include: whole milk, 32.6%; butter, 29.7%; eggs, 22.3%; cheese, 27.1%; and ready meals, 20.3%.
Mr Adamson said: “We have definitely seen a drop in donations which has been apparent for several months now.
“Normally at this time of year, just after the Harvest Festival, we are pretty secure for stocks of food to last us through till the New Year but this year, if food was to stop coming in, we would have around 4 weeks worth of food in our warehouse.
As soon as any new announcement is made or hinted at we see an influx of people.”
“On top of the drop in donations, there is an increase in numbers of people looking for help.
“This year a third of our client base is made of people seeking help from us for the first time.
“As soon as any new announcement is made or hinted at we see an influx of people.
“There is a massive feeling of fear and uncertainty with most of our clients that is generally followed by a growing despondency as we see people more and more.”
Inflation surges to 41-year high
Rising gas and electricity prices have driven headline inflation to its highest level for more than 40 years, despite the Energy Price Guarantee coming into force – a government initiative to curb the cost of heating.
According to the official statistics body, gas prices have climbed nearly 130% while electricity has risen by around 66%.
The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks rocketed 16.2% in October, against the same month last year, but some products have jumped by even more.
Charity must be ‘strict’ with food parcel sizes as costs increase
The rise in the cost of groceries has been accelerated by the war in Ukraine, which has pushed up the cost of fertiliser and animal feed due to the impact on grain supply from the region.
Global meat and dairy prices have jumped as a result, while the knock-on effect to oil production in the regions has also hit the price of sunflower oil and other fats.
I am worried about the size of parcels as we hit the festive period, which is always considerably busier…”
Mr Adamson said: “The foods that seem to have been hit hardest with price increases are the foods that are generally used in food parcels which makes things quite tricky so means that food parcels are looking a bit different.
“We have had to be quite strict with food parcel sizes, we already cut them by about a third at the beginning of the year with rising costs, so we are definitely just an ‘emergency’ food bank now, offering just two to three days of emergency sustenance.
“With the further rises in costs of food and fuel I am worried about the size of parcels as we hit the festive period, which is always considerably busier for foodbanks anyway.”
Get involved with The Big Christmas Food Appeal
Join our campaign to help keep families fed this winter. If you know of a foodbank, group or charity that we should be highlighting as part of The Big Christmas Food Appeal, please email livenews@ajl.co.uk
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